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Carata E, Muci M, Di Giulio S, Mariano S, Panzarini E. Looking to the Future of the Role of Macrophages and Extracellular Vesicles in Neuroinflammation in ALS. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:11251. [PMID: 37511010 PMCID: PMC10379393 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241411251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroinflammation is a common pathological feature of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although scientific evidence to date does not allow defining neuroinflammation as an ALS trigger, its role in exacerbating motor neuron (MNs) degeneration and disease progression is attracting research interest. Activated CNS (Central Nervous System) glial cells, proinflammatory peripheral and infiltrated T lymphocytes and monocytes/macrophages, as well as the immunoreactive molecules they release, represent the active players for the role of immune dysregulation enhancing neuroinflammation. The crosstalk between the peripheral and CNS immune cells significantly correlates with the survival of ALS patients since the modification of peripheral macrophages can downregulate inflammation at the periphery along the nerves and in the CNS. As putative vehicles for misfolded protein and inflammatory mediators between cells, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have also drawn particular attention in the field of ALS. Both CNS and peripheral immune cells release EVs, which are able to modulate the behavior of neighboring recipient cells; unfortunately, the mechanisms involved in EVs-mediated communication in neuroinflammation remain unclear. This review aims to synthesize the current literature regarding EV-mediated cell-to-cell communication in the brain under ALS, with a particular point of view on the role of peripheral macrophages in responding to inflammation to understand the biological process and exploit it for ALS management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Carata
- Department of Biological Sciences and Technologies (Di.S.Te.B.A.), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Marco Muci
- Department of Biological Sciences and Technologies (Di.S.Te.B.A.), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Simona Di Giulio
- Department of Biological Sciences and Technologies (Di.S.Te.B.A.), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Stefania Mariano
- Department of Biological Sciences and Technologies (Di.S.Te.B.A.), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
| | - Elisa Panzarini
- Department of Biological Sciences and Technologies (Di.S.Te.B.A.), University of Salento, 73100 Lecce, Italy
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202
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Acosta-Galeana I, Hernández-Martínez R, Reyes-Cruz T, Chiquete E, Aceves-Buendia JDJ. RNA-binding proteins as a common ground for neurodegeneration and inflammation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1193636. [PMID: 37475885 PMCID: PMC10355071 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1193636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The neurodegenerative and inflammatory illnesses of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and multiple sclerosis were once thought to be completely distinct entities that did not share any remarkable features, but new research is beginning to reveal more information about their similarities and differences. Here, we review some of the pathophysiological features of both diseases and their experimental models: RNA-binding proteins, energy balance, protein transportation, and protein degradation at the molecular level. We make a thorough analysis on TDP-43 and hnRNP A1 dysfunction, as a possible common ground in both pathologies, establishing a potential link between neurodegeneration and pathological immunity. Furthermore, we highlight the putative variations that diverge from a common ground in an atemporal course that proposes three phases for all relevant molecular events.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tania Reyes-Cruz
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular, División de Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Erwin Chiquete
- Departamento de Neurología y Psiquiatría, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Jose de Jesus Aceves-Buendia
- Departamento de Neurología y Psiquiatría, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City, Mexico
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203
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Pattee GL, Genge A, Couratier P, Lunetta C, Sobue G, Aoki M, Yoshino H, Jackson CE, Wymer J, Salah A, Nelson S. Oral Edaravone - Introducing a Flexible Treatment Option for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Expert Rev Neurother 2023; 23:859-866. [PMID: 37646130 DOI: 10.1080/14737175.2023.2251687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive and incurable neurodegenerative disease. While pharmacotherapy options remain limited, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved intravenous (IV) and oral edaravone for the treatment of ALS in 2017 and 2022, respectively. With the addition of oral edaravone, patients with ALS may exclusively use oral medications. AREAS COVERED The authors performed a review of the published literature using the United States (US) National Library of Medicine's PubMed.gov resource to describe the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, safety, and efficacy of oral edaravone, as well as pertinent completed and ongoing clinical trials, including the oral edaravone clinical trial development program. The clinical profile of oral edaravone is also discussed. EXPERT OPINION Edaravone has been shown to slow the rate of motor function deterioration experienced by patients with ALS. As the oral formulation has been approved, patients with ALS may use it alone or in combination with other approved therapeutics. Additional clinical trials and real-world evidence are ongoing to gain further understanding of the clinical profile of oral edaravone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary L Pattee
- Neurological Sciences Department, University of Nebraska Medical Center/Neurology Associates, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Angela Genge
- Clinical Research and ALS Clinic, Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital, Montreal, Canada
| | - Philippe Couratier
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Limoges, Limoges, France
| | - Christian Lunetta
- ALS Medical Rehabilitation Department, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, Neurorehabilitation Unit of Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Gen Sobue
- Department of Neurology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Aichi Medical University, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan
| | - Masashi Aoki
- Department of Neurology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Hiide Yoshino
- Department of Neurology, Yoshino Neurology Clinic, Chiba, Japan
| | - Carlayne E Jackson
- Department of Neurology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - James Wymer
- Department of Neuromuscular Neurology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | | | - Sally Nelson
- Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma America, Inc, New Jersey, USA
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204
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Idera A, Sharkey LM, Kurauchi Y, Kadoyama K, Paulson HL, Katsuki H, Seki T. Wild-type and pathogenic forms of ubiquilin 2 differentially modulate components of the autophagy-lysosome pathways. J Pharmacol Sci 2023; 152:182-192. [PMID: 37257946 DOI: 10.1016/j.jphs.2023.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Missense mutations of ubiquilin 2 (UBQLN2) have been identified to cause X-linked amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Proteasome-mediated protein degradation is reported to be impaired by ALS-associated mutations of UBQLN2. However, it remains unknown how these mutations affect autophagy-lysosome protein degradation, which consists of macroautophagy (MA), microautophagy (mA), and chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA). Using a CMA/mA fluorescence reporter we found that overexpression of wild-type UBQLN2 impairs CMA. Conversely, knockdown of endogenous UBQLN2 increases CMA activity, suggesting that normally UBQLN2 negatively regulates CMA. ALS-associated mutant forms of UBQLN2 exacerbate this impairment of CMA. Using cells stably transfected with wild-type or ALS-associated mutant UBQLN2, we further determined that wild-type UBQLN2 increased the ratio of LAMP2A (a CMA-related protein) to LAMP1 (a lysosomal protein). This could represent a compensatory reaction to the impairment of CMA by wild-type UBQLN2. However, ALS-associated mutant UBQLN2 failed to show this compensation, exacerbating the impairment of CMA by mutant UBQLN2. We further demonstrated that ALS-associated mutant forms of UBQLN2 also impair MA, but wild-type UBQLN2 does not. These results support the view that ALS-associated mutant forms of UBQLN2 impair both CMA and MA which may contribute to the neurodegeneration observed in patients with UBQLN2-mediated ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Akiko Idera
- Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Lisa M Sharkey
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Yuki Kurauchi
- Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Keiichi Kadoyama
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Himeji Dokkyo University, Japan
| | - Henry L Paulson
- Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hiroshi Katsuki
- Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Takahiro Seki
- Department of Chemico-Pharmacological Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan; Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Himeji Dokkyo University, Japan.
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205
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Arnold FJ, Nguyen AD, Bedlack RS, Bennett CL, La Spada AR. Intercellular transmission of pathogenic proteins in ALS: Exploring the pathogenic wave. Neurobiol Dis 2023:106218. [PMID: 37394036 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
In patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), disease symptoms and pathology typically spread in a predictable spatiotemporal pattern beginning at a focal site of onset and progressing along defined neuroanatomical tracts. Like other neurodegenerative diseases, ALS is characterized by the presence of protein aggregates in postmortem patient tissue. Cytoplasmic, ubiquitin-positive aggregates of TDP-43 are observed in approximately 97% of sporadic and familial ALS patients, while SOD1 inclusions are likely specific to cases of SOD1-ALS. Additionally, the most common subtype of familial ALS, caused by a hexanucleotide repeat expansion in the first intron of the C9orf72 gene (C9-ALS), is further characterized by the presence of aggregated dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs). As we will describe, cell-to-cell propagation of these pathological proteins tightly correlates with the contiguous spread of disease. While TDP-43 and SOD1 are capable of seeding protein misfolding and aggregation in a prion-like manner, C9orf72 DPRs appear to induce (and transmit) a 'disease state' more generally. Multiple mechanisms of intercellular transport have been described for all of these proteins, including anterograde and retrograde axonal transport, extracellular vesicle secretion, and macropinocytosis. In addition to neuron-to-neuron transmission, transmission of pathological proteins occurs between neurons and glia. Given that the spread of ALS disease pathology corresponds with the spread of symptoms in patients, the various mechanisms by which ALS-associated protein aggregates propagate through the central nervous system should be closely examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- F J Arnold
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - A D Nguyen
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - R S Bedlack
- Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - C L Bennett
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
| | - A R La Spada
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Neurology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Departments of Neurobiology and Behavior, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA; UCI Center for Neurotherapeutics, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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206
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Ramakrishna K, Nalla LV, Naresh D, Venkateswarlu K, Viswanadh MK, Nalluri BN, Chakravarthy G, Duguluri S, Singh P, Rai SN, Kumar A, Singh V, Singh SK. WNT-β Catenin Signaling as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Current Status and Future Perspective. Diseases 2023; 11:89. [PMID: 37489441 PMCID: PMC10366863 DOI: 10.3390/diseases11030089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin (WβC) signaling pathway is an important signaling pathway for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis from the embryonic developmental stages to adulthood. The canonical pathway of WβC signaling is essential for neurogenesis, cell proliferation, and neurogenesis, whereas the noncanonical pathway (WNT/Ca2+ and WNT/PCP) is responsible for cell polarity, calcium maintenance, and cell migration. Abnormal regulation of WβC signaling is involved in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), multiple sclerosis (MS), and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Hence, the alteration of WβC signaling is considered a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of neurodegenerative disease. In the present review, we have used the bibliographical information from PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus to address the current prospects of WβC signaling role in the abovementioned neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kakarla Ramakrishna
- KL College of Pharmacy, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation Deemed to be University (KLU), Green Fields, Vaddeswaram, Guntur 522502, India
| | - Lakshmi Vineela Nalla
- KL College of Pharmacy, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation Deemed to be University (KLU), Green Fields, Vaddeswaram, Guntur 522502, India
| | - Dumala Naresh
- KL College of Pharmacy, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation Deemed to be University (KLU), Green Fields, Vaddeswaram, Guntur 522502, India
| | - Kojja Venkateswarlu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Technology, Indian Institute of Technology, IIT BHU, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Matte Kasi Viswanadh
- KL College of Pharmacy, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation Deemed to be University (KLU), Green Fields, Vaddeswaram, Guntur 522502, India
| | - Buchi N Nalluri
- KL College of Pharmacy, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation Deemed to be University (KLU), Green Fields, Vaddeswaram, Guntur 522502, India
| | - Guntupalli Chakravarthy
- KL College of Pharmacy, Koneru Lakshmaiah Education Foundation Deemed to be University (KLU), Green Fields, Vaddeswaram, Guntur 522502, India
| | - Sajusha Duguluri
- Department of Biotechnology, Bharathi Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai 600073, India
| | - Payal Singh
- Department of Zoology, Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Sachchida Nand Rai
- Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
| | - Ashish Kumar
- ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Agamkuan, Patna 800007, India
| | - Veer Singh
- ICMR-Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Agamkuan, Patna 800007, India
| | - Santosh Kumar Singh
- Centre of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi 221005, India
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207
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Wu C, Feng Y. Exploring the potential of mindfulness-based therapy in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases based on molecular mechanism studies. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1097067. [PMID: 37383106 PMCID: PMC10293639 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1097067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (ND) have received increasing attention due to their irreversibility, but there is still no means to completely cure ND in clinical practice. Mindfulness therapy (MT), including Qigong, Tai Chi, meditation, and yoga, etc., has become an effective complementary treatment modality in solving clinical and subclinical problems due to its advantages of low side effects, less pain, and easy acceptance by patients. MT is primarily used to treat mental and emotional disorders. In recent years, evidence has shown that MT has a certain therapeutic effect on ND with a potential molecular basis. In this review, we summarize the pathogenesis and risk factors of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), relating to telomerase activity, epigenetics, stress, and the pro-inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) mediated inflammatory response, and analyze the molecular mechanism basis of MT to prevent and treat ND, to provide possible explanations for the potential of MT treatments for ND.
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208
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Flynn MB, Flynn J, Palacios A. Is the desperation of patients with incurable diseases being exploited? BMJ 2023; 381:p1337. [PMID: 37308181 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.p1337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ana Palacios
- Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, USA
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209
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Alves I, Gromicho M, Oliveira Santos M, Pinto S, Pronto-Laborinho A, Swash M, de Carvalho M. Demographic changes in a large motor neuron disease cohort in Portugal: a 27 year experience. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023:1-11. [PMID: 37295966 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2220747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Motor Neuron Diseases (MND) have a large clinical spectrum, being the most common amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) but there is significant clinical heterogeneity. Our goal was to investigate this heterogeneity and any potential changes during a long period. Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study among a large Portuguese cohort of MND patients (n = 1550) and investigated changing patterns in clinical and demographic characteristics over the 27-year period of our database. With that aim, patients were divided into three 9-year groups according to the date of their first visit to our unit: P1, 1994-2002; P2, 2003-2011; P3, 2012-2020. Results: The overall cohort's clinical and demographic characteristics are consistent with clinical experience, but our findings point to gradual changes over time. Time pattern analysis revealed statistically significant differences in the distribution of clinical phenotypes, the average age of onset, diagnostic delay, the proportin of patients using respiratory support with noninvasive ventilation (NIV), time to NIV, and survival. Across time, in the overall cohort, we found an increasing age at onset (p = 0.029), a decrease of two months in diagnostic delay (p < 0.001) and a higher relative frequency of progressive muscular atrophy patients. For ALS patients with spinal onset, from P1 to P2, there was a more widespread (54.8% vs 69.4%, p = 0.005) and earlier (36.9 vs 27.2 months, p = 0.05) use of NIV and a noteworthy 13-month increase in median survival (p = 0.041). Conclusions: Our results probably reflect better comprehensive care, and they are relevant for future studies exploring the impact of new treatments on ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Alves
- Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Marta Gromicho
- Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel Oliveira Santos
- Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Serviço de Neurologia, Departamento de Neurociências e Saúde Mental, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa-Norte, Lisboa, Portugal, and
| | - Susana Pinto
- Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Ana Pronto-Laborinho
- Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Michael Swash
- Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Barts and the London School of Medicine, Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom
| | - Mamede de Carvalho
- Centro de Estudos Egas Moniz, Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Serviço de Neurologia, Departamento de Neurociências e Saúde Mental, Hospital de Santa Maria, Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa-Norte, Lisboa, Portugal, and
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210
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Borg R, Herrera P, Purkiss A, Cacciottolo R, Cauchi RJ. Reduced levels of ALS gene DCTN1 induce motor defects in Drosophila. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1164251. [PMID: 37360176 PMCID: PMC10289029 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1164251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a rapidly progressive neuromuscular disease that has a strong genetic component. Deleterious variants in the DCTN1 gene are known to be a cause of ALS in diverse populations. DCTN1 encodes the p150 subunit of the molecular motor dynactin which is a key player in the bidirectional transport of cargos within cells. Whether DCTN1 mutations lead to the disease through either a gain or loss of function mechanism remains unresolved. Moreover, the contribution of non-neuronal cell types, especially muscle tissue, to ALS phenotypes in DCTN1 carriers is unknown. Here we show that gene silencing of Dctn1, the Drosophila main orthologue of DCTN1, either in neurons or muscles is sufficient to cause climbing and flight defects in adult flies. We also identify Dred, a protein with high homology to Drosophila Dctn1 and human DCTN1, that on loss of function also leads to motoric impairments. A global reduction of Dctn1 induced a significant reduction in the mobility of larvae and neuromuscular junction (NMJ) deficits prior to death at the pupal stage. RNA-seq and transcriptome profiling revealed splicing alterations in genes required for synapse organisation and function, which may explain the observed motor dysfunction and synaptic defects downstream of Dctn1 ablation. Our findings support the possibility that loss of DCTN1 function can lead to ALS and underscore an important requirement for DCTN1 in muscle in addition to neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Borg
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Paul Herrera
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Angie Purkiss
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Rebecca Cacciottolo
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
| | - Ruben J. Cauchi
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Biobanking, Biomedical Sciences Building, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
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211
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Pathak D, Sriram K. Neuron-astrocyte omnidirectional signaling in neurological health and disease. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1169320. [PMID: 37363320 PMCID: PMC10286832 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1169320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes are an abundantly distributed population of glial cells in the central nervous system (CNS) that perform myriad functions in the normal and injured/diseased brain. Astrocytes exhibit heterogeneous phenotypes in response to various insults, a process known as astrocyte reactivity. The accuracy and precision of brain signaling are primarily based on interactions involving neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, pericytes, and dendritic cells within the CNS. Astrocytes have emerged as a critical entity within the brain because of their unique role in recycling neurotransmitters, actively modulating the ionic environment, regulating cholesterol and sphingolipid metabolism, and influencing cellular crosstalk in diverse neural injury conditions and neurodegenerative disorders. However, little is known about how an astrocyte functions in synapse formation, axon specification, neuroplasticity, neural homeostasis, neural network activity following dynamic surveillance, and CNS structure in neurological diseases. Interestingly, the tripartite synapse hypothesis came to light to fill some knowledge gaps that constitute an interaction of a subpopulation of astrocytes, neurons, and synapses. This review highlights astrocytes' role in health and neurological/neurodegenerative diseases arising from the omnidirectional signaling between astrocytes and neurons at the tripartite synapse. The review also recapitulates the disruption of the tripartite synapse with a focus on perturbations of the homeostatic astrocytic function as a key driver to modulate the molecular and physiological processes toward neurodegenerative diseases.
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212
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Bai J, Zhang X, Wang H, Yu W, He Z, Wang J, Feng F, Li M, Wang H, Yang F, Huang X. Gender-specific association of uric acid and survival in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients. Brain Res 2023:148445. [PMID: 37290609 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2023.148445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the relationship between serum uric acid (UA) and survival in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(sALS) patients. METHOD A total of 801 sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(sALS) patients fulfilled the revised El Escorial criteria were enrolled and followed up in the study. Baseline clinical data and laboratory variables including gender, age, age of onset, site of onset, disease duration, body mass index (BMI), uric acid (UA), creatinine (Cr), and creatine kinase (CK) were collected during enrollment. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to evaluate the survival-related factors after adjustment for confounders. RESULTS The serum UA level was significantly lower in female patients than that in male patients (243.5 vs 314.9μmol/L, p<0.001). Gender, BMI, Cr, CK were significantly associated with the level of uric acid according to the linear regression analysis. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, higher serum UA level (>268.0μmol/L) was an independent protective factor for prolonged survival among female patients (HR=0.69, P=0.042) after adjustment for confounders. CONCLUSION The present study provided further support that higher UA was a protective factor for survival in sALS patients, especially in female.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiongming Bai
- College of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China; Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaolan Zhang
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Haoran Wang
- College of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China; Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China
| | - Wenxiu Yu
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China; Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengqing He
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China; Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jiao Wang
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China; Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Feng Feng
- Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China; Department of Neurology, PLA Rocket Force Characteristic Medical Center, Beijing, China
| | - Mao Li
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Hongfen Wang
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Yang
- Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Xusheng Huang
- College of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China; Medical School of Chinese PLA, Beijing, China; Department of Neurology, the First Medical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
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Gentili D, Deiana G, Chessa V, Calabretta A, Marras E, Solinas C, Gugliotta C, Azara A. Quality of Life in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Patients and Care Burden of Caregivers in Sardinia during COVID-19 Pandemic. Healthcare (Basel) 2023; 11:healthcare11111641. [PMID: 37297781 DOI: 10.3390/healthcare11111641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurogenerative disorder whose median survival ranges from 2 to 4 years after symptomatic onset. Therefore, the global Quality of Life (QoL) assessment in these patients should be carefully evaluated to guarantee an adequate care level, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic period, given the increased social isolation and the pressure on healthcare services. Caregiving has been recognized as an important source of physical and psychological burden, with a possible QoL impairment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the QoL of ALS patients and the burden of their caregivers across Sardinia, Italy. The ALS Specific QoL Instrument-Short Form (ALSSQOL-SF) and the Zarit Burden Inventory (ZBI) tools were used to assess patient's QoL and the burden on their caregivers, respectively. The questionnaires were supplemented with items specific for the COVID-19 period. Sixty-six family units of patients with advanced ALS were interviewed between June and August 2021 across Sardinia. Patients' psychological and social well-being were found to significantly affect the patients' QoL, regardless of their physical condition. In addition, the caregiver burden resulted as being inversely proportional to the patient's perceived QoL. Lack of adequate psychological support was reported among the caregivers during the emergency period. Providing adequate psychological and social support might be useful to improve QoL in middle and late stages of ALS patients and to decrease caregivers' perceived home care burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Davide Gentili
- Public Health Office, Local Health Unit 2 Marca Trevigiana, 31100 Treviso, Italy
| | - Giovanna Deiana
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
- University Hospital of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Vanna Chessa
- Home Care Unit, Ventilated Patients with High Care Complexity, Health District of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Annalisa Calabretta
- Home Care Unit, Ventilated Patients with High Care Complexity, Health District of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Marras
- Home Care Unit, Ventilated Patients with High Care Complexity, Health District of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Costanzo Solinas
- Home Care Unit, Ventilated Patients with High Care Complexity, Health District of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Azara
- University Hospital of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Pharmacy, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy
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214
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Barone C, Qi X. Altered Metabolism in Motor Neuron Diseases: Mechanism and Potential Therapeutic Target. Cells 2023; 12:1536. [PMID: 37296656 PMCID: PMC10252517 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Motor Neuron Diseases (MND) are neurological disorders characterized by a loss of varying motor neurons resulting in decreased physical capabilities. Current research is focused on hindering disease progression by determining causes of motor neuron death. Metabolic malfunction has been proposed as a promising topic when targeting motor neuron loss. Alterations in metabolism have also been noted at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) and skeletal muscle tissue, emphasizing the importance of a cohesive system. Finding metabolism changes consistent throughout both neurons and skeletal muscle tissue could pose as a target for therapeutic intervention. This review will focus on metabolic deficits reported in MNDs and propose potential therapeutic targets for future intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Xin Qi
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106-4970, USA;
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215
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Mashriqi F, Mishra BB, Giliberto L, Franceschi AM. 18 F-FDG Brain PET/MRI in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis- Frontotemporal Spectrum Disorder (ALS-FTSD). World J Nucl Med 2023; 22:135-139. [PMID: 37223625 PMCID: PMC10202568 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1760762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal and progressive neurodegenerative disorder involving both upper and lower motor neurons. Interestingly, 15 to 41% of patients with ALS have concomitant frontotemporal dementia (FTD). Approximately, 50% of patients with ALS can copresent with a broader set of neuropsychological pathologies that do not meet FTD diagnostic criteria. This association resulted in revised and expanded criteria establishing the ALS-frontotemporal spectrum disorder (FTSD). In this case report, we review background information, epidemiology, pathophysiology, and structural and molecular imaging features of ALS-FTSD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faizullah Mashriqi
- Neuroradiology Division, Department of Radiology, Northwell Health/Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, United States
| | - Bibhuti B. Mishra
- Department of Neurology, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. Manhasset, New York, United States
| | - Luca Giliberto
- Department of Neurology, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research. Manhasset, New York, United States
| | - Ana M. Franceschi
- Neuroradiology Division, Department of Radiology, Northwell Health/Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine, Lenox Hill Hospital, New York, United States
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216
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Funes S, Gadd DH, Mosqueda M, Zhong J, Jung J, Shankaracharya, Unger M, Cameron D, Dawes P, Keagle PJ, McDonough JA, Boopathy S, Sena-Esteves M, Lutz C, Skarnes WC, Lim ET, Schafer DP, Massi F, Landers JE, Bosco DA. Expression of ALS-PFN1 impairs vesicular degradation in iPSC-derived microglia. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.01.541136. [PMID: 37398081 PMCID: PMC10312575 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.01.541136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Microglia play a pivotal role in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis, but the mechanisms underlying microglia dysfunction and toxicity remain to be fully elucidated. To investigate the effect of neurodegenerative disease-linked genes on the intrinsic properties of microglia, we studied microglia-like cells derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), termed iMGs, harboring mutations in profilin-1 (PFN1) that are causative for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). ALS-PFN1 iMGs exhibited lipid dysmetabolism and deficits in phagocytosis, a critical microglia function. Our cumulative data implicate an effect of ALS-linked PFN1 on the autophagy pathway, including enhanced binding of mutant PFN1 to the autophagy signaling molecule PI3P, as an underlying cause of defective phagocytosis in ALS-PFN1 iMGs. Indeed, phagocytic processing was restored in ALS-PFN1 iMGs with Rapamycin, an inducer of autophagic flux. These outcomes demonstrate the utility of iMGs for neurodegenerative disease research and highlight microglia vesicular degradation pathways as potential therapeutic targets for these disorders.
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217
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Skajaa N, Riahi EB, Szépligeti SK, Horváth‐Puhó E, Sørensen TT, Henderson VW, Sørensen HT. Type 2 diabetes, obesity, and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A population-based cohort study. Brain Behav 2023; 13:e3007. [PMID: 37073502 PMCID: PMC10275529 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.3007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes and obesity may be inversely associated with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but the evidence is controversial. METHODS Using Danish, nationwide registries (1980-2016), we identified patients with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (N = 295,653) and patients with a diagnosis of obesity (N = 312,108). Patients were matched (1:3) to persons from the general population on birth year and sex. We computed incidence rates and Cox regression derived hazard ratios (HRs) of a diagnosis of ALS. In multivariable analyses, HRs were controlled for sex, birth year, calendar year, and comorbidities. RESULTS We observed 168 incident cases of ALS (0.7 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.6-0.8] per 10,000 person-years) among patients with type 2 diabetes and 859 incident cases of ALS (0.9 [95% CI: 0.9-1.0] per 10,000 person-years) among matched comparators. The adjusted HR was 0.87 (95% CI: 0.72-1.04). The association was present among men (adjusted HR: 0.78 [95% CI: 0.62-0.99]) but not women (adjusted HR: 1.03 [95% CI: 0.78-1.37]), and among those aged ≥60 years (adjusted HR: 0.75 [95% CI: 0.59-0.96]) but not younger. We observed 111 ALS events (0.4 [95% CI: 0.4-0.5] per 10,000 person-years) among obesity patients and 431 ALS events (0.5 [95% CI: 0.5-0.6] per 10,000 person-years) among comparators. The adjusted HR was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.70-1.11). CONCLUSIONS Diagnoses of type 2 diabetes and obesity were associated with a reduced rate of ALS compared with general population comparators, particularly among men and patients aged 60 years or above. However, absolute rate differences were small.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nils Skajaa
- Department of Clinical EpidemiologyAarhus University Hospital and Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | - Emil Bjerregaard Riahi
- Department of Clinical EpidemiologyAarhus University Hospital and Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | | | - Erzsébet Horváth‐Puhó
- Department of Clinical EpidemiologyAarhus University Hospital and Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
| | | | - Victor W. Henderson
- Department of Clinical EpidemiologyAarhus University Hospital and Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Department of Epidemiology and Population HealthStanford UniversityStanfordCalifornia
- Department of Neurology and Neurological SciencesStanford UniversityStanfordCalifornia
| | - Henrik Toft Sørensen
- Department of Clinical EpidemiologyAarhus University Hospital and Aarhus UniversityAarhusDenmark
- Clinical Excellence Research CenterStanford UniversityStanfordCalifornia
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218
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A meta-analysis of post-exercise outcomes in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. eNeurologicalSci 2023; 31:100452. [PMID: 36875937 PMCID: PMC9982645 DOI: 10.1016/j.ensci.2023.100452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective To systematically evaluate post-exercise outcomes related to function and quality of life in people with ALS. Methods PRISMA guidelines were used for identifying and extracting articles. Levels of evidence and quality of articles were judged based on The Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine Levels of Evidence and the QualSyst. Outcomes were analyzed with Comprehensive Meta-Analysis V2 software, random effects models, and Hedge's G. Effects were examined at 0-4 months, up to 6 months, and > 6 months. Pre-specified sensitivity analyses were performed for 1) controlled trials vs. all studies and 2) ALSFRS-R bulbar, respiratory, and motor subscales. Heterogeneity of pooled outcomes was computed with the I2 statistic. Results 16 studies and seven functional outcomes met inclusion for the meta-analysis. Of the outcomes explored, the ALSFRS-R demonstrated a favorable summary effect size and had acceptable heterogeneity and dispersion. While FIM scores demonstrated a favorable summary effect size, heterogeneity limited interpretations. Other outcomes did not demonstrate a favorable summary effect size and/or could not be reported due to few studies reporting outcomes. Conclusions This study provides inconclusive guidance regarding exercise regimens to maintain function and quality of life in people with ALS due to study limitations (e.g., small sample size, high attrition rate, heterogeneity in methods and participants, etc.). Future research is warranted to determine optimal treatment regimens and dosage parameters in this patient population.
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Key Words
- 25FWT, (25 Feet Walk Test)
- 6MWT, (6 Minute Walk Test)
- ALS, (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis)
- ALSFRS-R, (ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised)
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
- DIGEST, (Dynamic Imaging Grade of Swallowing Toxicity)
- EAT-10, (Eating Assessment Tool)
- EMST, (Expiratory muscle strength training)
- Exercise
- FAC, (Functional Ambulation Categories)
- FIM, (Functional Independence Measurement)
- FOIS, (Functional Oral Intake Scale)
- FSS, (Fatigue Severity Scale)
- FVC, (forced vital capacity)
- IMST, (Inspiratory muscle strength training)
- ITT, (intention-to-treat)
- KEMS, (knee extension muscle strength)
- MEP, (maximum expiratory pressure)
- MIP, (maximum inspiratory pressure)
- MND, (motor neuron disease)
- MVIC, (maximum voluntary isometric contraction)
- Motor neuron disease
- Outcome measures
- PAS, (Penetration Aspiration Scale)
- PEF, (peak expiratory flow)
- PRISMA-2009, (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses)
- RCTs, (randomized controlled trials)
- RPE, (rating of perceived exertion)
- Rehabilitation
- SNIP, (sniff nasal inspiratory pressure)
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219
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Vucic S, Menon P, Huynh W, Mahoney C, Ho KS, Hartford A, Rynders A, Evan J, Evan J, Ligozio S, Glanzman R, Hotchkin MT, Kiernan MC. Efficacy and safety of CNM-Au8 in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (RESCUE-ALS study): a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and open label extension. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 60:102036. [PMID: 37396808 PMCID: PMC10314176 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2023.102036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 05/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background CNM-Au8® is a catalytically-active gold nanocrystal neuroprotective agent that enhances intracellular energy metabolism and reduces oxidative stress. The phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial and open label extension RESCUE-ALS trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of CNM-Au8 for treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Methods RESCUE-ALS and its long-term open label extension (OLE) were conducted at two multidisciplinary ALS clinics located in Sydney, Australia: (i) the Brain and Mind Centre and (ii) Westmead Hospital. The double-blind portion of RESCUE-ALS was conducted from January 16, 2020 (baseline visit, first-patient first-visit (FPFV)) through July 13, 2021 (double-blind period, last-patient last-visit (LPLV)). Participants (N = 45) were randomised 1:1 to receive 30 mg of CNM-Au8 or matching placebo daily over 36 weeks in addition to background standard of care, riluzole. The primary outcome was mean percent change in summed motor unit number index (MUNIX), a sensitive neurophysiological biomarker of lower motor neuron function. Change in total (or summated) MUNIX score and change in forced vital capacity (FVC) were secondary outcome measures. ALS disease progression events, ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) change, change in quality of life (ALSSQOL-SF) were assessed as exploratory outcome measures. Long-term survival evaluated vital status of original active versus placebo randomisation for all participants through at least 12 months following last-patient last-visit (LPLV) of the double-blind period. RESCUE-ALS and the open label study are registered in clinicaltrials.gov with registration numbers NCT04098406 and NCT05299658, respectively. Findings In the intention-to-treat (ITT) population, there was no significant difference in the summated MUNIX score percent change (LS mean difference: 7.7%, 95% CI: -11.9 to 27.3%, p = 0.43), total MUNIX score change (18.8, 95% CI: -56.4 to 94.0), or FVC change (LS mean difference: 3.6, 95% CI: -12.4 to 19.7) between the active and placebo treated groups at week 36. In contrast, survival analyses through 12-month LPLV demonstrated a 60% reduction in all-cause mortality with CNM-Au8 treatment [hazard ratio = 0.408 (95% Wald CI: 0.166 to 1.001, log-rank p = 0.0429). 36 participants entered the open label extension (OLE), and those initially randomised to CNM-Au8 exhibited a slower rate of disease progression, as measured by time to the occurrence of death, tracheostomy, initiation of non-invasive ventilatory support, or gastrostomy tube placement. CNM-Au8 was well-tolerated, and no safety signals were observed. Interpretation CNM-Au8, in combination with riluzole, was well-tolerated in ALS with no identified safety signals. While the primary and secondary outcomes of this trial were not significant, the clinically meaningful exploratory results support further investigation of CNM-Au8 in ALS. Funding The RESCUE-ALS was substantially funded by a grant from FightMND. Additional funding was provided by Clene Australia Pty Ltd.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve Vucic
- Brain and Nerve Research Centre, Concord Clinical School and Department of Neurology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Parvathi Menon
- Brain and Nerve Research Centre, Concord Clinical School and Department of Neurology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - William Huynh
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Colin Mahoney
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
| | - Karen S. Ho
- Clene Nanomedicine, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | | | - Jacob Evan
- Clene Nanomedicine, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Jeremy Evan
- Clene Nanomedicine, Inc., Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | | | | | | | - Matthew C. Kiernan
- Brain and Mind Centre, University of Sydney, and Department of Neurology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia
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220
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Yue W, Shen J. Local Delivery Strategies for Peptides and Proteins into the CNS: Status Quo, Challenges, and Future Perspectives. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:810. [PMID: 37375758 DOI: 10.3390/ph16060810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, peptides and proteins have been increasingly important in the treatment of various human diseases and conditions owing to their specificity, potency, and minimized off-target toxicity. However, the existence of the practically impermeable blood brain barrier (BBB) limits the entry of macromolecular therapeutics into the central nervous systems (CNS). Consequently, clinical translation of peptide/protein therapeutics for the treatment of CNS diseases has been limited. Over the past decades, developing effective delivery strategies for peptides and proteins has gained extensive attention, in particular with localized delivery strategies, due to the fact that they are capable of circumventing the physiological barrier to directly introduce macromolecular therapeutics into the CNS to improve therapeutic effects and reduce systemic side effects. Here, we discuss various local administration and formulation strategies that have shown successes in the treatment of CNS diseases using peptide/protein therapeutics. Lastly, we discuss challenges and future perspectives of these approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weizhou Yue
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
| | - Jie Shen
- Department of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881, USA
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221
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Lazo PA, Morejón-García P. VRK1 variants at the cross road of Cajal body neuropathogenic mechanisms in distal neuropathies and motor neuron diseases. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 183:106172. [PMID: 37257665 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Distal hereditary neuropathies and neuro motor diseases are complex neurological phenotypes associated with pathogenic variants in a large number of genes, but in some the origin is unknown. Recently, rare pathogenic variants of the human VRK1 gene have been associated with these neurological phenotypes. All VRK1 pathogenic variants are recessive, and their clinical presentation occurs in either homozygous or compound heterozygous patients. The pathogenic VRK1 gene pathogenic variants are located in three clusters within the protein sequence. The main, and initial, shared clinical phenotype among VRK1 pathogenic variants is a distal progressive loss of motor and/or sensory function, which includes diseases such as spinal muscular atrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and hereditary spastic paraplegia. In most cases, symptoms start early in infancy, or in utero, and are slowly progressive. Additional neurological symptoms vary among non-related patients, probably because of their different VRK1 variants and their genetic background. The underlying common pathogenic mechanism, by its functional impairment, is a likely consequence of the roles that the VRK1 protein plays in the regulation on the stability and assembly of Cajal bodies, which affect RNA maturation and processing, neuronal migration of RNPs along axons, and DNA-damage responses. Alterations of these processes are associated with several neuro sensory or motor syndromes. The clinical heterogeneity of the neurological phenotypes associated with VRK1 is a likely consequence of the protein complexes in which VRK1 is integrated, which include several proteins known to be associated with Cajal bodies and DNA damage responses. Several hereditary distal neurological diseases are a consequence of pathogenic variants in genes that alter these cellular functions. We conclude that VRK1-related distal hereditary neuropathies and motor neuron diseases represent a novel subgroup of Cajal body related neurological syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro A Lazo
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) - Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - Patricia Morejón-García
- Molecular Mechanisms of Cancer Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) - Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
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Hosaka T, Tsuji H, Kwak S. Roles of Aging, Circular RNAs, and RNA Editing in the Pathogenesis of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Potential Biomarkers and Therapeutic Targets. Cells 2023; 12:1443. [PMID: 37408276 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable motor neuron disease caused by upper and lower motor neuron death. Despite advances in our understanding of ALS pathogenesis, effective treatment for this fatal disease remains elusive. As aging is a major risk factor for ALS, age-related molecular changes may provide clues for the development of new therapeutic strategies. Dysregulation of age-dependent RNA metabolism plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of ALS. In addition, failure of RNA editing at the glutamine/arginine (Q/R) site of GluA2 mRNA causes excitotoxicity due to excessive Ca2+ influx through Ca2+-permeable α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazole propionic acid receptors, which is recognized as an underlying mechanism of motor neuron death in ALS. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a circular form of cognate RNA generated by back-splicing, are abundant in the brain and accumulate with age. Hence, they are assumed to play a role in neurodegeneration. Emerging evidence has demonstrated that age-related dysregulation of RNA editing and changes in circRNA expression are involved in ALS pathogenesis. Herein, we review the potential associations between age-dependent changes in circRNAs and RNA editing, and discuss the possibility of developing new therapies and biomarkers for ALS based on age-related changes in circRNAs and dysregulation of RNA editing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Hosaka
- Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
- University of Tsukuba Hospital/Jichi Medical University Joint Ibaraki Western Regional Clinical Education Center, Chikusei 308-0813, Japan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Ibaraki Western Medical Center, Chikusei 308-0813, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Tsuji
- Department of Neurology, Division of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
| | - Shin Kwak
- Department of Neurology, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo 160-0023, Japan
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González-Mingot C, Miana-Mena FJ, Iñarrea PJ, Iñiguez C, Capablo JL, Osta R, Gil-Sánchez A, Brieva L, Larrodé P. Mitochondrial Aconitase Enzymatic Activity: A Potential Long-Term Survival Biomarker in the Blood of ALS Patients. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12103560. [PMID: 37240666 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12103560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multisystemic, progressive, neurodegenerative disorder. Despite it being generally fatal within a period of 2-4 years, it is highly heterogeneous; as a result, survival periods may vary greatly among individual patients. Biomarkers can serve as tools for diagnosis, prognosis, indicators of therapeutic response, and future therapeutics. Free-radical-dependent mitochondrial damage is believed to play a crucial role in neurodegeneration in ALS. Mitochondrial aconitase, which is also known as aconitase 2 (Aco2), is a key Krebs cycle enzyme and is involved in the regulation of cellular metabolism and iron homeostasis. Aco2 is very sensitive to oxidative inactivation and can aggregate and accumulate in the mitochondrial matrix, causing mitochondrial dysfunction. Loss of Aco2 activity may therefore reflect increased levels of mitochondrial dysfunction due to oxidative damage and could be relevant to ALS pathogenesis. The aim of our study was to confirm changes in mitochondrial aconitase activity in peripheral blood and to determine whether such changes are dependent on, or independent of, the patient's condition and to propose the feasibility of using them as possible valid biomarkers to quantify the progression of the disease and as a predictor of individual prognosis in ALS. METHODS We measured the Aco2 enzymatic activity in the platelets of blood samples taken from 22 controls and 26 ALS patients at different stages of disease development. We then correlated antioxidant activity with clinical and prognostic variables. RESULTS Aco2 activity was significantly lower in the 26 ALS patients than in the 22 controls (p < 0.05). Patients with higher levels of Aco2 activity survived longer than those with lower levels (p < 0.05). Aco2 activity was also higher in patients with earlier onset (p < 0.05) and in those with predominantly upper motor neuron signs. CONCLUSIONS Aco2 activity seems to be an independent factor that could be used in the long-term survival prognosis of ALS. Our findings suggest that blood Aco2 could be a leading candidate for use as a biomarker to improve prognosis. More studies are needed to confirm these results.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Francisco Javier Miana-Mena
- LAGENBIO-Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza University, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Pedro José Iñarrea
- Biochemical-Department of Biology-Faculty, Zaragoza University, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Cristina Iñiguez
- Neurology-Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José Luis Capablo
- Neurology-Department, Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rosario Osta
- LAGENBIO-Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Aragon Institute for Health Research (IIS Aragon), Zaragoza University, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Anna Gil-Sánchez
- Neurology-Department, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Luis Brieva
- Neurology-Department, Hospital Arnau de Vilanova of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain
| | - Pilar Larrodé
- Neurology-Department, Hospital Clínico Universitario Lozano Blesa of Zaragoza, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain
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Hedges EC, Cocks G, Shaw CE, Nishimura AL. Generation of an Open-Access Patient-Derived iPSC Biobank for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Disease Modelling. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1108. [PMID: 37239468 PMCID: PMC10218399 DOI: 10.3390/genes14051108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 05/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease affecting the upper and lower motor neurons, causing patients to lose control over voluntary movement, and leading to gradual paralysis and death. There is no cure for ALS, and the development of viable therapeutics has proved challenging, demonstrated by a lack of positive results from clinical trials. One strategy to address this is to improve the tool kit available for pre-clinical research. Here, we describe the creation of an open-access ALS iPSC biobank generated from patients carrying mutations in the TARDBP, FUS, ANXA11, ARPP21, and C9ORF72 genes, alongside healthy controls. To demonstrate the utilisation of these lines for ALS disease modelling, a subset of FUS-ALS iPSCs were differentiated into functionally active motor neurons. Further characterisation revealed an increase in cytoplasmic FUS protein and reduced neurite outgrowth in FUS-ALS motor neurons compared to the control. This proof-of-principle study demonstrates that these novel patient-derived iPSC lines can recapitulate specific and early disease-related ALS phenotypes. This biobank provides a disease-relevant platform for discovery of ALS-associated cellular phenotypes to aid the development of novel treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin C. Hedges
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 5 Cutcombe Rd., London SE5 9RT, UK;
| | - Graham Cocks
- Genome Editing and Embryology Core, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK;
| | - Christopher E. Shaw
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 5 Cutcombe Rd., London SE5 9RT, UK;
- Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland, 85 Park Road, Grafton, Auckland 1023, New Zealand
| | - Agnes L. Nishimura
- United Kingdom Dementia Research Institute, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, 5 Cutcombe Rd., London SE5 9RT, UK;
- Blizard Institute, Neuroscience, Surgery and Trauma, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
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225
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Chen H, Hu Z, Ke Z, Xu Y, Bai F, Liu Z. Aberrant Multimodal Connectivity Pattern Involved in Default Mode Network and Limbic Network in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Brain Sci 2023; 13:brainsci13050803. [PMID: 37239275 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci13050803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder that progressively affects bulbar and limb function. Despite increasing recognition of the disease as a multinetwork disorder characterized by aberrant structural and functional connectivity, its integrity agreement and its predictive value for disease diagnosis remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we recruited 37 ALS patients and 25 healthy controls (HCs). High-resolution 3D T1-weighted imaging and resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging were, respectively, applied to construct multimodal connectomes. Following strict neuroimaging selection criteria, 18 ALS and 25 HC patients were included. Network-based statistic (NBS) and the coupling of grey matter structural-functional connectivity (SC-FC coupling) were performed. Finally, the support vector machine (SVM) method was used to distinguish the ALS patients from HCs. Results showed that, compared with HCs, ALS individuals exhibited a significantly increased functional network, predominantly encompassing the connections between the default mode network (DMN) and the frontoparietal network (FPN). The increased structural connections predominantly involved the inter-regional connections between the limbic network (LN) and the DMN, the salience/ventral attention network (SVAN) and FPN, while the decreased structural connections mainly involved connections between the LN and the subcortical network (SN). We also found increased SC-FC coupling in DMN-related brain regions and decoupling in LN-related brain regions in ALS, which could differentiate ALS from HCs with promising capacity based on SVM. Our findings highlight that DMN and LN may play a vital role in the pathophysiological mechanism of ALS. Additionally, SC-FC coupling could be regarded as a promising neuroimaging biomarker for ALS and shows important clinical potential for early recognition of ALS individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haifeng Chen
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zheqi Hu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
- Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Zhihong Ke
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
- Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Yun Xu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Feng Bai
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
| | - Zhuo Liu
- Department of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing 210008, China
- Jiangsu Province Stroke Center for Diagnosis and Therapy, Nanjing 210008, China
- Nanjing Neuropsychiatry Clinic Medical Center, Nanjing 210008, China
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226
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Wang H, Guan L, Deng M. Recent progress of the genetics of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and challenges of gene therapy. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1170996. [PMID: 37250416 PMCID: PMC10213321 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1170996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the degeneration of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. The causes of ALS are not fully understood. About 10% of ALS cases were associated with genetic factors. Since the discovery of the first familial ALS pathogenic gene SOD1 in 1993 and with the technology advancement, now over 40 ALS genes have been found. Recent studies have identified ALS related genes including ANXA11, ARPP21, CAV1, C21ORF2, CCNF, DNAJC7, GLT8D1, KIF5A, NEK1, SPTLC1, TIA1, and WDR7. These genetic discoveries contribute to a better understanding of ALS and show the potential to aid the development of better ALS treatments. Besides, several genes appear to be associated with other neurological disorders, such as CCNF and ANXA11 linked to FTD. With the deepening understanding of the classic ALS genes, rapid progress has been made in gene therapies. In this review, we summarize the latest progress on classical ALS genes and clinical trials for these gene therapies, as well as recent findings on newly discovered ALS genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - LiPing Guan
- Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China
- Laboratory of Genomics and Molecular Biomedicine, Department of Biology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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227
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Maruyama T, Tanabe S, Uyeda A, Suzuki T, Muramatsu R. Free fatty acids support oligodendrocyte survival in a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Front Cell Neurosci 2023; 17:1081190. [PMID: 37252191 PMCID: PMC10213402 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2023.1081190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the white matter degeneration. Although changes in blood lipids are involved in the pathogenesis of neurological diseases, the pathological role of blood lipids in ALS remains unclear. Methods and results We performed lipidome analysis on the plasma of ALS model mice, mutant superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1G93A) mice, and found that the concentration of free fatty acids (FFAs), including oleic acid (OA) and linoleic acid (LA), decreased prior to disease onset. An in vitro study revealed that OA and LA directly inhibited glutamate-induced oligodendrocytes cell death via free fatty acid receptor 1 (FFAR1). A cocktail containing OA/LA suppressed oligodendrocyte cell death in the spinal cord of SOD1G93A mice. Discussion These results suggested that the reduction of FFAs in the plasma is a pathogenic biomarker for ALS in the early stages, and supplying a deficiency in FFAs is a potential therapeutic approach for ALS by preventing oligodendrocyte cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takashi Maruyama
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Pharmacoscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shogo Tanabe
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akiko Uyeda
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tatsunori Suzuki
- Department of Pharmacoscience, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Chiba, Japan
| | - Rieko Muramatsu
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, National Institute of Neuroscience, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry, Tokyo, Japan
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228
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Ruf WP, Boros M, Freischmidt A, Brenner D, Grozdanov V, de Meirelles J, Meyer T, Grehl T, Petri S, Grosskreutz J, Weyen U, Guenther R, Regensburger M, Hagenacker T, Koch JC, Emmer A, Roediger A, Steinbach R, Wolf J, Weishaupt JH, Lingor P, Deschauer M, Cordts I, Klopstock T, Reilich P, Schoeberl F, Schrank B, Zeller D, Hermann A, Knehr A, Günther K, Dorst J, Schuster J, Siebert R, Ludolph AC, Müller K. Spectrum and frequency of genetic variants in sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Brain Commun 2023; 5:fcad152. [PMID: 37223130 PMCID: PMC10202555 DOI: 10.1093/braincomms/fcad152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Therapy of motoneuron diseases entered a new phase with the use of intrathecal antisense oligonucleotide therapies treating patients with specific gene mutations predominantly in the context of familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. With the majority of cases being sporadic, we conducted a cohort study to describe the mutational landscape of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We analysed genetic variants in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated genes to assess and potentially increase the number of patients eligible for gene-specific therapies. We screened 2340 sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients from the German Network for motor neuron diseases for variants in 36 amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-associated genes using targeted next-generation sequencing and for the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion. The genetic analysis could be completed on 2267 patients. Clinical data included age at onset, disease progression rate and survival. In this study, we found 79 likely pathogenic Class 4 variants and 10 pathogenic Class 5 variants (without the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion) according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines, of which 31 variants are novel. Thus, including C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion, Class 4, and Class 5 variants, 296 patients, corresponding to ∼13% of our cohort, could be genetically resolved. We detected 437 variants of unknown significance of which 103 are novel. Corroborating the theory of oligogenic causation in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, we found a co-occurrence of pathogenic variants in 10 patients (0.4%) with 7 being C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion carriers. In a gene-wise survival analysis, we found a higher hazard ratio of 1.47 (95% confidence interval 1.02-2.1) for death from any cause for patients with the C9orf72 hexanucleotide repeat expansion and a lower hazard ratio of 0.33 (95% confidence interval 0.12-0.9) for patients with pathogenic SOD1 variants than for patients without a causal gene mutation. In summary, the high yield of 296 patients (∼13%) harbouring a pathogenic variant and oncoming gene-specific therapies for SOD1/FUS/C9orf72, which would apply to 227 patients (∼10%) in this cohort, corroborates that genetic testing should be made available to all sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis patients after respective counselling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wolfgang P Ruf
- Correspondence to: Dr Wolfgang P. Ruf Department of Neurology Medical Faculty, Ulm University Albert-Einstein-Allee 23, Ulm 89081, Germany E-mail:
| | - Matej Boros
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University & Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | - Axel Freischmidt
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm 89081, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | - David Brenner
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | | | - Joao de Meirelles
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | - Thomas Meyer
- Department of Neurology, Center for ALS and other Motor Neuron Disorders, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin 13353, Germany
| | - Torsten Grehl
- Department of Neurology, Alfried Krupp Hospital, Essen 45131, Germany
| | - Susanne Petri
- Department of Neurology, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Hannover 30625, Germany
| | | | - Ute Weyen
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Bochum, Bochum 44789, Germany
| | - Rene Guenther
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden 01307, Germany
| | - Martin Regensburger
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen 91054, Germany
| | - Tim Hagenacker
- Department of Neurology Center for Translational Neuro- and Behavioral Sciences (C-TNBS), University Medicine Essen, Essen 45147, Germany
| | - Jan C Koch
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Goettingen, Goettingen 37075, Germany
| | - Alexander Emmer
- University Clinic and Polyclinic for Neurology, University Hospital Halle, Halle 06120, Germany
| | | | - Robert Steinbach
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Jena, Jena 07747, Germany
| | - Joachim Wolf
- Department of Neurology, Diako Mannheim, Mannheim 68163, Germany
| | - Jochen H Weishaupt
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Mannheim, Mannheim 68167, Germany
| | - Paul Lingor
- Department of Neurology, Technical University Munich, Munich 80333, Germany
| | - Marcus Deschauer
- Department of Neurology, Technical University Munich, Munich 80333, Germany
| | - Isabell Cordts
- Department of Neurology, Technical University Munich, Munich 80333, Germany
| | - Thomas Klopstock
- Department of Neurology with Friedrich-Baur-Institute, University Hospital of Ludwig-Maximilians-University, München 80336, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Munich 81377, Germany
| | - Peter Reilich
- Department of Neurology with Friedrich-Baur-Institute, University Hospital of Ludwig-Maximilians-University, München 80336, Germany
| | - Florian Schoeberl
- Department of Neurology with Friedrich-Baur-Institute, University Hospital of Ludwig-Maximilians-University, München 80336, Germany
| | - Berthold Schrank
- Department of Neurology, DKD Helios Clinics, Wiesbaden 65191, Germany
| | - Daniel Zeller
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg 97080, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section ‘Albrecht Kossel’, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock 18146, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Rostock/Greifswald 17489, Germany
| | - Antje Knehr
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | | | - Johannes Dorst
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm 89081, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | - Joachim Schuster
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm 89081, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | - Reiner Siebert
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University & Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm 89081, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | - Kathrin Müller
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Ulm 89081, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University & Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm 89081, Germany
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Zimyanin VL, Pielka AM, Glaß H, Japtok J, Großmann D, Martin M, Deussen A, Szewczyk B, Deppmann C, Zunder E, Andersen PM, Boeckers TM, Sterneckert J, Redemann S, Storch A, Hermann A. Live Cell Imaging of ATP Levels Reveals Metabolic Compartmentalization within Motoneurons and Early Metabolic Changes in FUS ALS Motoneurons. Cells 2023; 12:1352. [PMID: 37408187 PMCID: PMC10216752 DOI: 10.3390/cells12101352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Motoneurons are one of the most energy-demanding cell types and a primary target in Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a debilitating and lethal neurodegenerative disorder without currently available effective treatments. Disruption of mitochondrial ultrastructure, transport, and metabolism is a commonly reported phenotype in ALS models and can critically affect survival and the proper function of motor neurons. However, how changes in metabolic rates contribute to ALS progression is not fully understood yet. Here, we utilize hiPCS-derived motoneuron cultures and live imaging quantitative techniques to evaluate metabolic rates in fused in sarcoma (FUS)-ALS model cells. We show that differentiation and maturation of motoneurons are accompanied by an overall upregulation of mitochondrial components and a significant increase in metabolic rates that correspond to their high energy-demanding state. Detailed compartment-specific live measurements using a fluorescent ATP sensor and FLIM imaging show significantly lower levels of ATP in the somas of cells carrying FUS-ALS mutations. These changes lead to the increased vulnerability of diseased motoneurons to further metabolic challenges with mitochondrial inhibitors and could be due to the disruption of mitochondrial inner membrane integrity and an increase in its proton leakage. Furthermore, our measurements demonstrate heterogeneity between axonal and somatic compartments, with lower relative levels of ATP in axons. Our observations strongly support the hypothesis that mutated FUS impacts the metabolic states of motoneurons and makes them more susceptible to further neurodegenerative mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitaly L Zimyanin
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Anna-Maria Pielka
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section, "Albrecht Kossel", Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Hannes Glaß
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section, "Albrecht Kossel", Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Julia Japtok
- Department of Neurology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Dajana Großmann
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section, "Albrecht Kossel", Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Melanie Martin
- Institute of Physiology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Andreas Deussen
- Institute of Physiology, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Barbara Szewczyk
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section, "Albrecht Kossel", Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Chris Deppmann
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA
| | - Eli Zunder
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA
| | - Peter M Andersen
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Neurosciences, Umeå University, SE-901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Tobias M Boeckers
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Ulm Site, 89081 Ulm, Germany
- Institute for Anatomy and Cell Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Jared Sterneckert
- Centre for Regenerative Therapie, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
- Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Stefanie Redemann
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biological Physics, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Center for Membrane and Cell Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22903, USA
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22902, USA
| | - Alexander Storch
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, 18147 Rostock, Germany
- Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock (CTNR), University Medical Centre, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section, "Albrecht Kossel", Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Rostock, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, 18147 Rostock, Germany
- Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences Rostock (CTNR), University Medical Centre, University of Rostock, 18147 Rostock, Germany
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Westi EW, Andersen JV, Aldana BI. Using stable isotope tracing to unravel the metabolic components of neurodegeneration: Focus on neuron-glia metabolic interactions. Neurobiol Dis 2023; 182:106145. [PMID: 37150307 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Disrupted brain metabolism is a critical component of several neurodegenerative diseases. Energy metabolism of both neurons and astrocytes is closely connected to neurotransmitter recycling via the glutamate/GABA-glutamine cycle. Neurons and astrocytes hereby work in close metabolic collaboration which is essential to sustain neurotransmission. Elucidating the mechanistic involvement of altered brain metabolism in disease progression has been aided by the advance of techniques to monitor cellular metabolism, in particular by mapping metabolism of substrates containing stable isotopes, a technique known as isotope tracing. Here we review key aspects of isotope tracing including advantages, drawbacks and applications to different cerebral preparations. In addition, we narrate how isotope tracing has facilitated the discovery of central metabolic features in neurodegeneration with a focus on the metabolic cooperation between neurons and astrocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil W Westi
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Jens V Andersen
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Blanca I Aldana
- Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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231
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Chu YP, Jin LW, Wang LC, Ho PC, Wei WY, Tsai KJ. Transthyretin attenuates TDP-43 proteinopathy by autophagy activation via ATF4 in FTLD-TDP. Brain 2023; 146:2089-2106. [PMID: 36355566 PMCID: PMC10411944 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
TAR DNA-binding protein-43 (TDP-43) proteinopathies are accompanied by the pathological hallmark of cytoplasmic inclusions in the neurodegenerative diseases, including frontal temporal lobar degeneration-TDP and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We found that transthyretin accumulates with TDP-43 cytoplasmic inclusions in frontal temporal lobar degeneration-TDP human patients and transgenic mice, in which transthyretin exhibits dramatic expression decline in elderly mice. The upregulation of transthyretin expression was demonstrated to facilitate the clearance of cytoplasmic TDP-43 inclusions through autophagy, in which transthyretin induces autophagy upregulation via ATF4. Of interest, transthyretin upregulated ATF4 expression and promoted ATF4 nuclear import, presenting physical interaction. Neuronal expression of transthyretin in frontal temporal lobar degeneration-TDP mice restored autophagy function and facilitated early soluble TDP-43 aggregates for autophagosome targeting, ameliorating neuropathology and behavioural deficits. Thus, transthyretin conducted two-way regulations by either inducing autophagy activation or escorting TDP-43 aggregates targeted autophagosomes, suggesting that transthyretin is a potential modulator therapy for neurological disorders caused by TDP-43 proteinopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Ping Chu
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Lee-Way Jin
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, UC Davis Medical Center, CA, USA
| | - Liang-Chao Wang
- Division of Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chuan Ho
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Wei-Yen Wei
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Kuen-Jer Tsai
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Research Center of Clinical Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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232
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Guo C, Chen L, Wang Y. Substance abuse and neurodegenerative diseases: focus on ferroptosis. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:1519-1528. [PMID: 37100932 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03505-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Psychostimulants and alcohol are widely abused substances with the adverse effects on global public health. Substance abuse seriously harms people's health and causes various diseases, especially neurodegenerative diseases. Neurodegenerative diseases include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases is complex and diverse, usually involving oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, metal homeostasis disorder, and neuro-inflammation. The precise molecular mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration remain unclear, which is a major obstacle to therapeutic approaches. Therefore, it is urgent to improve the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative processes and to identify the therapeutic targets for treatment and prevention. Ferroptosis is a regulatory cell necrosis caused by iron ion catalysis and lipid peroxidation induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is thought to be associated with nervous system diseases, particularly neurodegenerative diseases. This review overviewed the ferroptosis process and explored the relationship of ferroptosis with substance abuse and neurodegenerative diseases, which provides a new way to study the molecular mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases induced by alcohol, cocaine, and methamphetamine (MA), and also provides the potential therapeutic targets for substance abuse-induced neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Guo
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China
| | - Lei Chen
- International Education School, China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Yun Wang
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, No. 77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, 110122, Liaoning, China.
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233
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Jung KH, Sun J, Hsiung CH, Lance Lian X, Liu Y, Zhang X. Nuclear bodies protect phase separated proteins from degradation in stressed proteome. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.19.537522. [PMID: 37131610 PMCID: PMC10153235 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.19.537522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) containing intrinsically disordered domains undergo liquid-liquid phase separation to form nuclear bodies under stress conditions. This process is also connected to the misfolding and aggregation of RBPs, which are associated with a series of neurodegenerative diseases. However, it remains elusive how folding states of RBPs changes upon the formation and maturation of nuclear bodies. Here, we describe SNAP-tag based imaging methods to visualize the folding states of RBPs in live cells via time-resolved quantitative microscopic analyses of their micropolarity and microviscosity. Using these imaging methods in conjunction with immunofluorescence imaging, we demonstrate that RBPs, represented by TDP-43, initially enters the PML nuclear bodies in its native state upon transient proteostasis stress, albeit it begins to misfolded during prolonged stress. Furthermore, we show that heat shock protein 70 co-enters the PML nuclear bodies to prevent the degradation of TDP-43 from the proteotoxic stress, thus revealing a previously unappreciated protective role of the PML nuclear bodies in the prevention of stress-induced degradation of TDP-43. In summary, our imaging methods described in the manuscript, for the first time, reveal the folding states of RBPs, which were previously challenging to study with conventional methods in nuclear bodies of live cells. This study uncovers the mechanistic correlations between the folding states of a protein and functions of nuclear bodies, in particular PML bodies. We envision that the imaging methods can be generally applied to elucidating the structural aspects of other proteins that exhibit granular structures under biological stimulus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwan Ho Jung
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Institute of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States
| | - Jiarui Sun
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Institute of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States
| | - Chia-Heng Hsiung
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Institute of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States
- Present address: Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang Province, China; Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine; 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Huck Institute of Life Sciences, Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States
| | - Xiaojun Lance Lian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Huck Institute of Life Sciences, Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States
| | - Yu Liu
- Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian, Liaoning, 116023, China
| | - Xin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Huck Institute of Life Sciences, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States
- Present address: Department of Chemistry, School of Science and Research Center for Industries of the Future, Westlake University, 600 Dunyu Road, Hangzhou 310030, Zhejiang Province, China; Westlake Laboratory of Life Sciences and Biomedicine; 18 Shilongshan Road, Hangzhou 310024, Zhejiang Province, China
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Huck Institute of Life Sciences, Department of Biology, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, 16802, United States
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Ziff OJ, Neeves J, Mitchell J, Tyzack G, Martinez-Ruiz C, Luisier R, Chakrabarti AM, McGranahan N, Litchfield K, Boulton SJ, Al-Chalabi A, Kelly G, Humphrey J, Patani R. Integrated transcriptome landscape of ALS identifies genome instability linked to TDP-43 pathology. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2176. [PMID: 37080969 PMCID: PMC10119258 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37630-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) causes motor neuron degeneration, with 97% of cases exhibiting TDP-43 proteinopathy. Elucidating pathomechanisms has been hampered by disease heterogeneity and difficulties accessing motor neurons. Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived motor neurons (iPSMNs) offer a solution; however, studies have typically been limited to underpowered cohorts. Here, we present a comprehensive compendium of 429 iPSMNs from 15 datasets, and 271 post-mortem spinal cord samples. Using reproducible bioinformatic workflows, we identify robust upregulation of p53 signalling in ALS in both iPSMNs and post-mortem spinal cord. p53 activation is greatest with C9orf72 repeat expansions but is weakest with SOD1 and FUS mutations. TDP-43 depletion potentiates p53 activation in both post-mortem neuronal nuclei and cell culture, thereby functionally linking p53 activation with TDP-43 depletion. ALS iPSMNs and post-mortem tissue display enrichment of splicing alterations, somatic mutations, and gene fusions, possibly contributing to the DNA damage response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver J Ziff
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
| | - Jacob Neeves
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Jamie Mitchell
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Giulia Tyzack
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Carlos Martinez-Ruiz
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Raphaelle Luisier
- Genomics and Health Informatics Group, Idiap Research Institute, Martigny, Switzerland
| | | | - Nicholas McGranahan
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Kevin Litchfield
- Cancer Research UK Lung Cancer Centre of Excellence, University College London Cancer Institute, London, UK
| | - Simon J Boulton
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Gavin Kelly
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Jack Humphrey
- Nash Family Department of Neuroscience & Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rickie Patani
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
- Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
- National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London NHS Foundation Trust, London, WC1N 3BG, UK.
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235
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Antonioni A, Govoni V, Brancaleoni L, Donà A, Granieri E, Bergamini M, Gerdol R, Pugliatti M. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Air Pollutants in the Province of Ferrara, Northern Italy: An Ecological Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:ijerph20085591. [PMID: 37107873 PMCID: PMC10138704 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20085591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
The etiopathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is still largely unknown, but likely depends on gene-environment interactions. Among the putative sources of environmental exposure are air pollutants and especially heavy metals. We aimed to investigate the relationship between ALS density and the concentration of air pollution heavy metals in Ferrara, northern Italy. An ecological study was designed to correlate the map of ALS distribution and that of air pollutants. All ALS cases diagnosed between 2000 and 2017 (Ferrara University Hospital administrative data) were plotted by residency in 100 sub-areas, and grouped in 4 sectors: urban, rural, northwestern and along the motorway. The concentrations of silver, aluminium, cadmium, chrome, copper, iron, manganese, lead, and selenium in moss and lichens were measured and monitored in 2006 and 2011. Based on 62 ALS patients, a strong and direct correlation of ALS density was observed only with copper concentrations in all sectors and in both sexes (Pearson coefficient (ρ) = 0.758; p = 0.000002). The correlation was higher in the urban sector (ρ = 0.767; p = 0.000128), in women for the overall population (ρ = 0.782, p = 0.000028) and in the urban (ρ = 0.872, p = 0.000047) population, and for the older cohort of diagnosed patients (2000-2009) the assessment correlated with the first assessment of air pollutants in 2006 (ρ = 0.724, p = 0.008). Our data is, in part, consistent with a hypothesis linking copper pollution to ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annibale Antonioni
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.A.); (E.G.)
- Doctoral Program in Translational Neurosciences and Neurotechnologies, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Vittorio Govoni
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.A.); (E.G.)
| | - Lisa Brancaleoni
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Alessandro Donà
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.A.); (E.G.)
| | - Enrico Granieri
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.A.); (E.G.)
| | - Mauro Bergamini
- Preventive Medicine and Risk Assessment, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Renato Gerdol
- Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Maura Pugliatti
- Unit of Clinical Neurology, Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (A.A.); (E.G.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0532-239309
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236
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Dorn GW. Reversing Dysdynamism to Interrupt Mitochondrial Degeneration in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Cells 2023; 12:1188. [PMID: 37190097 PMCID: PMC10136928 DOI: 10.3390/cells12081188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is one of several chronic neurodegenerative conditions in which mitochondrial abnormalities are posited to contribute to disease progression. Therapeutic options targeting mitochondria include enhancing metabolism, suppressing reactive oxygen production and disrupting mitochondria-mediated programmed cell death pathways. Herein is reviewed mechanistic evidence supporting a meaningful pathophysiological role for the constellation of abnormal mitochondrial fusion, fission and transport, collectively designated mitochondrial dysdynamism, in ALS. Following this is a discussion on preclinical studies in ALS mice that seemingly validate the idea that normalizing mitochondrial dynamism can delay ALS by interrupting a vicious cycle of mitochondrial degeneration, leading to neuronal die-back and death. Finally, the relative benefits of suppressing mitochondrial fusion vs. enhancing mitochondrial fusion in ALS are speculated upon, and the paper concludes with the prediction that the two approaches could be additive or synergistic, although a side-by-side comparative trial may be challenging to perform.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald W Dorn
- Department of Internal Medicine (Pharmacogenomics), Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO 63110, USA
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237
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Li Z. The ALS-Related SynGAP1 Pathogenic Variant Causes Dendritic Spine Loss: Potential Mechanisms of Early-Stage ALS Progression. J Neurosci 2023; 43:2819-2821. [PMID: 37076290 PMCID: PMC10124941 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0099-23.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 04/21/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zhanxu Li
- Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan 410078, China
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238
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Teruel-Peña B, Gómez-Urquiza JL, Suleiman-Martos N, Prieto I, García-Cózar FJ, Ramírez-Sánchez M, Fernández-Martos C, Domínguez-Vías G. Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses of Aminopeptidases as Prognostic Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087169. [PMID: 37108335 PMCID: PMC10138961 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons in the spinal cord, brain stem, and cerebral cortex. Biomarkers for ALS are essential for disease detection and to provide information on potential therapeutic targets. Aminopeptidases catalyze the cleavage of amino acids from the amino terminus of protein or substrates such as neuropeptides. Since certain aminopeptidases are known to increase the risk of neurodegeneration, such mechanisms may reveal new targets to determine their association with ALS risk and their interest as a diagnostic biomarker. The authors performed a systematic review and meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies (GWASs) to identify reported aminopeptidases genetic loci associated with the risk of ALS. PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, ISI Web of Science, ProQuest, LILACS, and Cochrane databases were searched to retrieve eligible studies in English or Spanish, published up to 27 January 2023. A total of 16 studies were included in this systematic review, where a series of aminopeptidases could be related to ALS and could be promising biomarkers (DPP1, DPP2, DPP4, LeuAP, pGluAP, and PSA/NPEPPS). The literature reported the association of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs: rs10260404 and rs17174381) with the risk of ALS. The genetic variation rs10260404 in the DPP6 gene was identified to be highly associated with ALS susceptibility, but meta-analyses of genotypes in five studies in a matched cohort of different ancestry (1873 cases and 1861 control subjects) showed no ALS risk association. Meta-analyses of eight studies for minor allele frequency (MAF) also found no ALS association for the "C" allele. The systematic review identified aminopeptidases as possible biomarkers. However, the meta-analyses for rs1060404 of DPP6 do not show a risk associated with ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Teruel-Peña
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ceuta University of Granada, 51001 Ceuta, Spain
| | - José Luís Gómez-Urquiza
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ceuta University of Granada, 51001 Ceuta, Spain
| | - Nora Suleiman-Martos
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Isabel Prieto
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Germán Domínguez-Vías
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ceuta University of Granada, 51001 Ceuta, Spain
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239
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Cecerska-Heryć E, Pękała M, Serwin N, Gliźniewicz M, Grygorcewicz B, Michalczyk A, Heryć R, Budkowska M, Dołęgowska B. The Use of Stem Cells as a Potential Treatment Method for Selected Neurodegenerative Diseases: Review. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023:10.1007/s10571-023-01344-6. [PMID: 37027074 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-023-01344-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Stem cells have been the subject of research for years due to their enormous therapeutic potential. Most neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and Huntington's disease (HD) are incurable or very difficult to treat. Therefore new therapies are sought in which autologous stem cells are used. They are often the patient's only hope for recovery or slowing down the progress of the disease symptoms. The most important conclusions arise after analyzing the literature on the use of stem cells in neurodegenerative diseases. The effectiveness of MSC cell therapy has been confirmed in ALS and HD therapy. MSC cells slow down ALS progression and show early promising signs of efficacy. In HD, they reduced huntingtin (Htt) aggregation and stimulation of endogenous neurogenesis. MS therapy with hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) inducted significant recalibration of pro-inflammatory and immunoregulatory components of the immune system. iPSC cells allow for accurate PD modeling. They are patient-specific and therefore minimize the risk of immune rejection and, in long-term observation, did not form any tumors in the brain. Extracellular vesicles derived from bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (BM-MSC-EVs) and Human adipose-derived stromal/stem cells (hASCs) cells are widely used to treat AD. Due to the reduction of Aβ42 deposits and increasing the survival of neurons, they improve memory and learning abilities. Despite many animal models and clinical trial studies, cell therapy still needs to be refined to increase its effectiveness in the human body.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elżbieta Cecerska-Heryć
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University of Szczecin, PowstancowWielkopolskich 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland.
| | - Maja Pękała
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University of Szczecin, PowstancowWielkopolskich 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Natalia Serwin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University of Szczecin, PowstancowWielkopolskich 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Marta Gliźniewicz
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University of Szczecin, PowstancowWielkopolskich 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Bartłomiej Grygorcewicz
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University of Szczecin, PowstancowWielkopolskich 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Anna Michalczyk
- Department of Psychiatry, Pomeranian Medical University of Szczecin, Broniewskiego 26, 71-460, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Rafał Heryć
- Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University of Szczecin, PowstancowWielkopolskich 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Marta Budkowska
- Department of Medical Analytics, Pomeranian Medical University of Szczecin, PowstancowWielkopolskich 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland
| | - Barbara Dołęgowska
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Pomeranian Medical University of Szczecin, PowstancowWielkopolskich 72, 70-111, Szczecin, Poland
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240
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Marshall KL, Rajbhandari L, Venkatesan A, Maragakis NJ, Farah MH. Enhanced axonal regeneration of ALS patient iPSC-derived motor neurons harboring SOD1 A4V mutation. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5597. [PMID: 37020097 PMCID: PMC10076424 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31720-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease, characterized by degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons that leads to muscle weakness, paralysis, and death, but the effects of disease-causing mutations on axonal outgrowth of neurons derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC)-derived motor neurons (hiPSC-MN) are poorly understood. The use of hiPSC-MN is a promising tool to develop more relevant models for target identification and drug development in ALS research, but questions remain concerning the effects of distinct disease-causing mutations on axon regeneration. Mutations in superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) were the first to be discovered in ALS patients. Here, we investigated the effect of the SOD1A4V mutation on axonal regeneration of hiPSC-MNs, utilizing compartmentalized microfluidic devices, which are powerful tools for studying hiPSC-MN distal axons. Surprisingly, SOD1+/A4V hiPSC-MNs regenerated axons more quickly following axotomy than those expressing the native form of SOD1. Though initial axon regrowth was not significantly different following axotomy, enhanced regeneration was apparent at later time points, indicating an increased rate of outgrowth. This regeneration model could be used to identify factors that enhance the rate of human axon regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L Marshall
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, The John G. Rangos Sr. Building, Room 239, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Labchan Rajbhandari
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, The John G. Rangos Sr. Building, Room 239, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Arun Venkatesan
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, The John G. Rangos Sr. Building, Room 239, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Nicholas J Maragakis
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, The John G. Rangos Sr. Building, Room 239, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Mohamed H Farah
- Neuromuscular Division, Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, The John G. Rangos Sr. Building, Room 239, 855 N. Wolfe Street, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
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Kim JA, Park C, Sung JJ, Seo DJ, Choi SJ, Hong YH. Small RNA sequencing of circulating small extracellular vesicles microRNAs in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5528. [PMID: 37016037 PMCID: PMC10073149 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32717-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNA) in small extracellular vesicles (sEV) such as exosomes have been implicated in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although circulating cell-free miRNA have been extensively investigated in ALS, sEV-derived miRNAs have not been systemically explored yet. Here, we performed small RNA sequencing analysis of serum sEV and identified 5 differentially expressed miRNA in a discovery cohort of 12 patients and 11 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (fold change > 2, p < 0.05). Two of them (up- and down-regulation of miR-23c and miR192-5p, respectively) were confirmed in a separate validation cohort (18 patients and 15 healthy controls) by droplet digital PCR. Bioinformatic analysis revealed that these two miRNAs interact with distinct sets of target genes and involve biological processes relevant to the pathomechanism of ALS. Our results suggest that circulating sEV from ALS patients have distinct miRNA profiles which may be potentially useful as a biomarker of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Ah Kim
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Translational Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Genomic Medicine Institute, Medical Research Center, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Canaria Park
- Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jung-Joon Sung
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Jin Seo
- Department of Neurology, Chung-Ang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Seok-Jin Choi
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoon-Ho Hong
- Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Research Institute, Medical Research Council, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Seoul Metropolitan Government Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Neurology, Seoul National University Seoul Metropolitan Government Boramae Medical Center, 20 Boramaero-5-Gil, Dongjak-Gu, Seoul, 07061, Republic of Korea.
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242
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Choi HJ, Lee JY, Kim K. Glutathionylation on RNA-binding proteins: a regulator of liquid‒liquid phase separation in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:735-744. [PMID: 37009800 PMCID: PMC10167235 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-00978-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) containing low-sequence complexity domains mediate the formation of cellular condensates and membrane-less organelles with biological functions via liquid‒liquid phase separation (LLPS). However, the abnormal phase transition of these proteins induces the formation of insoluble aggregates. Aggregates are pathological hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The molecular mechanisms underlying aggregate formation by ALS-associated RPBs remain largely unknown. This review highlights emerging studies on various posttranslational modifications (PTMs) related to protein aggregation. We begin with the introduction of several ALS-associated RBPs that form aggregates induced by phase separation. In addition, we highlight our recent discovery of a new PTM involved in the phase transition during the pathogenesis of fused-in-sarcoma (FUS)-associated ALS. We suggest a molecular mechanism through which LLPS mediates glutathionylation in FUS-linked ALS. This review aims to provide a detailed overview of the key molecular mechanisms of LLPS-mediated aggregate formation by PTMs, which will help further the understanding of the pathogenesis and development of ALS therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Jun Choi
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 31151, Korea
- Department of Integrated Biomedical Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 31151, Korea
| | - Ji Young Lee
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Korea
| | - Kiyoung Kim
- Department of Medical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Korea.
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243
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Abu-Abaa M, Mousa A, Chadalawada S, Abdulsahib A. Bulbar Onset Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis in a COVID-19 Patient: A Case Report. Cureus 2023; 15:e37814. [PMID: 37214058 PMCID: PMC10197023 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.37814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder with a largely unknown etiology. In this case, we are presenting an 84-year-old male patient who was admitted for acute hypoxemic respiratory failure secondary to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. He was neurologically intact. His infection improved and oxygen requirement was gradually weaned off allowing for discharge. However, he was admitted again a month later with progressive dysphagia and aspiration that were confirmed on videofluoroscopic study. He was also found to have mild dysarthria, bulbar muscle weakness, bilateral lower motor neuron facial nerve palsy, diffuse hyporeflexia on four extremities with intact sensory function. Diagnosis of ALS was suspected after extensive workup was pursued and ruled out nutritional, structural, autoimmune, infectious and inflammatory disorders. This case is only the third reported case in medical literature to suggest COVID-19 infection as a triggering/accelerating factor of ALS progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Abu-Abaa
- Internal Medicine, Capital Health Regional Medical Center, Trenton, USA
| | - Aliaa Mousa
- Internal Medicine, Capital Health Regional Medical Center, Trenton, USA
| | | | - Ali Abdulsahib
- Internal Medicine, Capital Health Regional Medical Center, Trenton, USA
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244
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Ketabforoush AHME, Chegini R, Barati S, Tahmasebi F, Moghisseh B, Joghataei MT, Faghihi F, Azedi F. Masitinib: The promising actor in the next season of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis treatment series. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 160:114378. [PMID: 36774721 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with high mortality and morbidity rate affecting both upper and lower motor neurons (MN). Muscle force reduction, behavioral change, pseudobulbar affect, and cognitive impairments are the most common clinical manifestations of ALS. The main physiopathology of ALS is still unclear, though several studies have identified that oxidative stress, proteinopathies, glutamate-related excitotoxicity, microglial activation, and neuroinflammation may be involved in the pathogenesis of ALS. From 1995 until October 2022, only Riluzole, Dextromethorphan Hydrobromide (DH) with Quinidine sulfate (Q), Edaravone, and Sodium phenylbutyrate with Taurursodiol (PB/TUDCO) have achieved FDA approval for ALS treatment. Despite the use of these four approved agents, the survival rate and quality of life of ALS patients are still low. Thus, finding novel treatments for ALS patients is an urgent requirement. Masitinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, emphasizes the neuro-inflammatory activity of ALS by targeting macrophages, mast cells, and microglia cells. Masitinib downregulates the proinflammatory cytokines, indirectly reduces inflammation, and induces neuroprotection. Also, it was effective in phase 2/3 and 3 clinical trials (CTs) by increasing overall survival and delaying motor, bulbar, and respiratory function deterioration. This review describes the pathophysiology of ALS, focusing on Masitinib's mechanism of action and explaining why Masitinib could be a promising actor in the treatment of ALS patients. In addition, Masitinib CTs and other competitor drugs in phase 3 CTs have been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rojin Chegini
- Metabolic Liver Disease Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Shirin Barati
- Department of Anatomy, Saveh University of Medical Sciences, Saveh, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Tahmasebi
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Bardia Moghisseh
- Student Research Committee, Arak University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taghi Joghataei
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Faezeh Faghihi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Fereshteh Azedi
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran; Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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245
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Mueller S, Decker L, Menge S, Ludolph AC, Freischmidt A. The Fragile X Protein Family in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Mol Neurobiol 2023; 60:3898-3910. [PMID: 36991279 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03330-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023]
Abstract
The fragile X protein (FXP) family comprises the multifunctional RNA-binding proteins FMR1, FXR1, and FXR2 that play an important role in RNA metabolism and regulation of translation, but also in DNA damage and cellular stress responses, mitochondrial organization, and more. FMR1 is well known for its implication in neurodevelopmental diseases. Recent evidence suggests substantial contribution of this protein family to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) pathogenesis. ALS is a highly heterogeneous neurodegenerative disease with multiple genetic and unclear environmental causes and very limited treatment options. The loss of motoneurons in ALS is still poorly understood, especially because pathogenic mechanisms are often restricted to patients with mutations in specific causative genes. Identification of converging disease mechanisms evident in most patients and suitable for therapeutic intervention is therefore of high importance. Recently, deregulation of the FXPs has been linked to pathogenic processes in different types of ALS. Strikingly, in many cases, available data points towards loss of expression and/or function of the FXPs early in the disease, or even at the presymptomatic state. In this review, we briefly introduce the FXPs and summarize available data about these proteins in ALS. This includes their relation to TDP-43, FUS, and ALS-related miRNAs, as well as their possible contribution to pathogenic protein aggregation and defective RNA editing. Furthermore, open questions that need to be addressed before definitively judging suitability of these proteins as novel therapeutic targets are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Mueller
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Lorena Decker
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sonja Menge
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Albert C Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany
- German Center For Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Axel Freischmidt
- Department of Neurology, Ulm University, Albert-Einstein-Allee 11, 89081, Ulm, Germany.
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246
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Liu P, Tang Y, Li W, Liu Z, Zhou M, Li J, Yuan Y, Fang L, Guo J, Shen L, Jiang H, Tang B, Hu S, Wang J. Brain metabolic signatures in patients with genetic and nongenetic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023. [PMID: 36971206 PMCID: PMC10401109 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Abstract
AIMS To study the brain metabolic signature in Chinese amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and compare the difference in brain metabolic patterns between ALS with and without genetic variants. METHODS We included 146 patients with ALS and 128 healthy controls (HCs). All patients with ALS underwent genetic testing to screen for ALS related genetic variants and were then divided into genetic (n = 22) and nongenetic ALS (n = 93) subgroups. All participants underwent brain 18 F-FDG-PET scans. Group comparisons were performed using the two-sample t-test model of SPM12. RESULTS We identified a large of hypometabolic clusters in ALS patients as compared with HCs, especially in the bilateral basal ganglia, midbrain, and cerebellum. Moreover, hypometabolism in the bilateral temporal lobe, precentral gyrus and hypermetabolism in the left anterior cingulate, occipital lobe, and bilateral frontal lobe were also found in ALS patients as compared with HCs. Compared with nongenetic ALS patients, genetic ALS patients showed hypometabolism in the right postcentral gyrus, precuneus, and middle occipital gyrus. The incidence of sensory disturbance in patients with genetic ALS was higher than that in patients with nongenetic ALS (5 of 22 [22.72%] vs. 7 of 93 [7.52%], p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS Our investigation provided unprecedented evidence of relative hypometabolism in the midbrain and cerebellum in ALS patients. Genetic ALS patients showed a specific signature of brain metabolism and a higher incidence of sensory disturbance, indicating that genetic factors may be an underlying cause affecting the brain metabolism and increasing the risk of sensory disturbance in ALS.
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247
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Pateri MI, Pilotto S, Borghero G, Pili F, Pierri V, Ercoli T, Gigante AF, Muroni A, Defazio G. Increasing prevalence 2015-2019 of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Sardinia, Italy. Neurol Sci 2023:10.1007/s10072-023-06753-5. [PMID: 36964314 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-06753-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/26/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND While amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) incidence has increased during the last decades, structured evidence on increased prevalence is lacking. After reporting a significant yearly increase of ALS incidence over a 10-year period, we checked for increased prevalence in Southern Sardinia over a quinquennium. METHODS ALS patients (El Escorial Criteria) recruited from the study area and followed at ALS Centre, University of Cagliari, were included. Prevalence was computed for January 1, 2015 and January 1, 2019 and was calculated for the overall ALS population as well as for tracheostomized and non-tracheostomized patients. RESULTS We observed a non-significant trend for greater ALS prevalence in 2019 than in 2015 (18.31 per 100,000 vs. 15.26 per 100,000; rate ratio: 1.83, p = 0.01). By contrast, a significantly raising 2015 to 2019 ALS prevalence was observed in tracheostomized patients. No significant difference could be detected in non-tracheostomized. CONCLUSIONS We provided the highest prevalence rate to date reported in the worldwide literature, and also showed a non-significant raising ALS prevalence in the Sardinian population over a quinquennium. The trend in raising ALS prevalence was likely due to extended survival due to invasive interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Ida Pateri
- Institute of Neurology, University Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Silvy Pilotto
- Institute of Neurology, University Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy.
| | - Giuseppe Borghero
- Institute of Neurology, University Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Francesca Pili
- Institute of Neurology, University Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Pierri
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Tommaso Ercoli
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Antonella Muroni
- Institute of Neurology, University Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Giovanni Defazio
- Institute of Neurology, University Hospital of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Department of Medical Sciences and Public Health, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
- Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Centre, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
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248
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Black HH, Hanson JL, Roberts JE, Leslie SN, Campodonico W, Ebmeier CC, Holling GA, Tay JW, Matthews AM, Ung E, Lau CI, Whiteley AM. UBQLN2 restrains the domesticated retrotransposon PEG10 to maintain neuronal health in ALS. eLife 2023; 12:e79452. [PMID: 36951542 PMCID: PMC10076021 DOI: 10.7554/elife.79452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive motor neuron dysfunction and loss. A portion of ALS cases are caused by mutation of the proteasome shuttle factor Ubiquilin 2 (UBQLN2), but the molecular pathway leading from UBQLN2 dysfunction to disease remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that UBQLN2 regulates the domesticated gag-pol retrotransposon 'paternally expressed gene 10 (PEG10)' in human cells and tissues. In cells, the PEG10 gag-pol protein cleaves itself in a mechanism reminiscent of retrotransposon self-processing to generate a liberated 'nucleocapsid' fragment, which uniquely localizes to the nucleus and changes the expression of genes involved in axon remodeling. In spinal cord tissue from ALS patients, PEG10 gag-pol is elevated compared to healthy controls. These findings implicate the retrotransposon-like activity of PEG10 as a contributing mechanism in ALS through the regulation of gene expression, and restraint of PEG10 as a primary function of UBQLN2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Holly H Black
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Jessica L Hanson
- Institute for Behavioral Genetics, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Julia E Roberts
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Shannon N Leslie
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Will Campodonico
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | | | - G Aaron Holling
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Jian Wei Tay
- Biofrontiers Institute, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Autumn M Matthews
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Elizabeth Ung
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
| | - Cristina I Lau
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Colorado BoulderBoulderUnited States
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249
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Iova OM, Marin GE, Lazar I, Stanescu I, Dogaru G, Nicula CA, Bulboacă AE. Nitric Oxide/Nitric Oxide Synthase System in the Pathogenesis of Neurodegenerative Disorders-An Overview. Antioxidants (Basel) 2023; 12:antiox12030753. [PMID: 36979000 PMCID: PMC10045816 DOI: 10.3390/antiox12030753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Nitric oxide, a ubiquitous molecule found throughout the natural world, is a key molecule implicated in many central and benefic molecular pathways and has a well-established role in the function of the central nervous system, as numerous studies have previously shown. Dysregulation of its metabolism, mainly the upregulation of nitric oxide production, has been proposed as a trigger and/or aggravator for many neurological affections. Increasing evidence supports the implication of this molecule in prevalent neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The mechanisms proposed for its neurotoxicity mainly center around the increased quantities of nitric oxide that are produced in the brain, their cause, and, most importantly, the pathological metabolic cascades created. These cascades lead to the formation of neuronal toxic substances that impair the neurons' function and structure on multiple levels. The purpose of this review is to present the main causes of increased pathological production, as well as the most important pathophysiological mechanisms triggered by nitric oxide, mechanisms that could help explain a part of the complex picture of neurodegenerative diseases and help develop targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga-Maria Iova
- Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gheorghe-Eduard Marin
- Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Izabella Lazar
- Faculty of Medicine, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Ioana Stanescu
- Department of Neurology, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Gabriela Dogaru
- Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Iuliu Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Viilor Street, No. 46-50, 400347 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cristina Ariadna Nicula
- Department of Ophthalmology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Adriana Elena Bulboacă
- Department of Pathophysiology, Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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250
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Oliveira NAS, Pinho BR, Oliveira JMA. Swimming against ALS: How to model disease in zebrafish for pathophysiological and behavioral studies. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 148:105138. [PMID: 36933816 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease that leads to progressive disability and motor impairment. Existing therapies provide modest improvements in patient survival, raising a need for new treatments for ALS. Zebrafish is a promising model animal for translational and fundamental research in ALS - it is an experimentally tractable vertebrate, with high homology to humans and an ample experimental toolbox. These advantages allow high-throughput study of behavioral and pathophysiological phenotypes. The last decade saw an increased interest in modelling ALS in zebrafish, leading to the current abundance and variety of available methods and models. Additionally, the rise of gene editing techniques and toxin combination studies has created novel opportunities for ALS studies in zebrafish. In this review, we address the relevance of zebrafish as a model animal for ALS studies, the strategies for model induction and key phenotypical evaluation. Furthermore, we discuss established and emerging zebrafish models of ALS, analyzing their validity, including their potential for drug testing, and highlighting research opportunities in this area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuno A S Oliveira
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Mitochondria and Neurobiology Lab, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Lab, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Brígida R Pinho
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Mitochondria and Neurobiology Lab, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Lab, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Jorge M A Oliveira
- UCIBIO-REQUIMTE, Applied Molecular Biosciences Unit, Mitochondria and Neurobiology Lab, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal; Associate Laboratory i4HB, Institute for Health and Bioeconomy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Drug Sciences, Pharmacology Lab, University of Porto, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal.
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