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Talbott EO, Malek AM, Arena VC, Wu F, Steffes K, Sharma RK, Buchanich J, Rager JR, Bear T, Hoffman CA, Lacomis D, Donnelly C, Mauna J, Vena JE. Case-control study of environmental toxins and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis involving the national ALS registry. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2024; 25:533-542. [PMID: 38591179 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2024.2336108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Neurotoxic chemicals are suggested in the etiology of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We examined the association of environmental and occupational risk factors including persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and ALS risk among cases from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National ALS Registry and age, sex, and county-matched controls. METHODS Participants completed a risk factor survey and provided a blood sample for OCP measurement. ALS cases were confirmed through the Registry. Conditional logistic regression assessed associations between ALS and risk factors including OCP levels. RESULTS 243 matched case-control pairs (61.7% male, mean [SD] age = 62.9 [10.1]) were included. Fifteen of the 29 OCPs examined had sufficient detectable levels for analysis. Modest correlations of self-reported years of exposure to residential pesticide mixtures and OCP serum levels were found (p<.001). Moreover, occupational exposure to lead including soldering and welding with lead/metal dust and use of lead paint/gasoline were significantly related to ALS risk (OR = 1.77, 95% CI: 1.11-2.83). Avocational gardening was a significant risk factor for ALS (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.04-2.37). ALS risk increased for each 10 ng/g of α-Endosulfan (OR = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.14-1.77) and oxychlordane (OR = 1.24, 95% CI: 1.01-1.53). Heptachlor (detectable vs. nondetectable) was also associated with ALS risk (OR = 3.57, 95% CI: 1.50-8.52). CONCLUSION This national case-control study revealed both survey and serum levels of OCPs as risk factors for ALS. Despite the United States banning many OCPs in the 1970s and 1980s, their use abroad and long half-lives continue to exert possible neurotoxic health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn O Talbott
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Angela M Malek
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Vincent C Arena
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Fan Wu
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kristen Steffes
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Ravi K Sharma
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jeanine Buchanich
- Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Judith R Rager
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Todd Bear
- Department of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Caroline A Hoffman
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David Lacomis
- Departments of Neurology and Pathology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA, and
| | - Chris Donnelly
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jocelyn Mauna
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - John E Vena
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
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Castelli L, Vasta R, Allen SP, Waller R, Chiò A, Traynor BJ, Kirby J. From use of omics to systems biology: Identifying therapeutic targets for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 176:209-268. [PMID: 38802176 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2024.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a heterogeneous progressive neurodegenerative disorder with available treatments such as riluzole and edaravone extending survival by an average of 3-6 months. The lack of highly effective, widely available therapies reflects the complexity of ALS. Omics technologies, including genomics, transcriptomic and proteomics have contributed to the identification of biological pathways dysregulated and targeted by therapeutic strategies in preclinical and clinical trials. Integrating clinical, environmental and neuroimaging information with omics data and applying a systems biology approach can further improve our understanding of the disease with the potential to stratify patients and provide more personalised medicine. This chapter will review the omics technologies that contribute to a systems biology approach and how these components have assisted in identifying therapeutic targets. Current strategies, including the use of genetic screening and biosampling in clinical trials, as well as the future application of additional technological advances, will also be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydia Castelli
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Rosario Vasta
- ALS Expert Center,'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Scott P Allen
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Rachel Waller
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Adriano Chiò
- ALS Expert Center,'Rita Levi Montalcini' Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Neurology 1, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Bryan J Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States; RNA Therapeutics Laboratory, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, MD, United States; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD, United States; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Baltimore, MD, United States; Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology,University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Janine Kirby
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, School of Medicine and Population Health, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
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Mazzucco S, Li L, Tuna MA, Rothwell PM. Age-specific sex-differences in cerebral blood flow velocity in relation to haemoglobin levels. Eur Stroke J 2024:23969873241245631. [PMID: 38634499 DOI: 10.1177/23969873241245631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cerebral blood flow (CBF) declines with age and abnormalities in CBF are associated with age-related cerebrovascular disease and neurodegeneration. Women have higher CBF than men, although this sex-difference diminishes to some extent with age in healthy subjects. The physiological drivers of these age/sex differences are uncertain, but might be secondary to age and sex-differences in haemoglobin (Hb) level. Hb levels are inversely correlated with CBF, are lower in women, and decline with age in men, but the interrelations between these factors have not been explored systematically either in healthy subjects or across the full age-range in patients with vascular risk factors. We aimed to determine the age-specific interrelations between sex, Hb, and CBF velocity in a large cohort of patients with cerebrovascular disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS In patients with a recent transient ischaemic attack or minor stroke (Oxford Vascular Study) and no ipsilateral or contralateral stenosis of the carotid or intracranial arteries, we related peak-systolic velocity (PSV) and other parameters on transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD) of the middle cerebral artery to sex, age, Hb and vascular risk factors. RESULTS Of 958 eligible subjects (mean age/SD = 68.04/14.26, 53.2% male), younger women (age < 55 years) had higher CBF velocities than men (mean sex difference in PSV at age < 55 years = 16.31 cm/s; p < 0.001), but this difference declined with age (interaction p < 0.001), such that it was no longer significant at age 75-84 (∆PSV = 3.26 cm/s; p = 0.12) and was reversed at age ⩾ 85 (∆PSV = -7.42 cm/s; p = 0.05). These changes mirrored trends in levels of Hb, which were higher in men at age < 55 (∆Hb = 1.92 g/dL; p < 0.001), but steadily decreased with age in men but not in women (interaction p < 0.001), with no residual sex-difference at age ⩾ 85 (∆Hb = 0.12 g/dL; p = 0.70). There was an inverse correlation between Hb and PSV in both women and men (both p ⩽ 0.01), and the sex-difference in PSV at age < 55 was substantially diminished after adjustment for Hb (∆PSV = 6.92; p = 0.036; ∆PSV = 5.92, p = 0.13 with further adjustment for end-tidal CO2). In contrast, the sex difference in PSV was unaffected by adjustment for systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and vascular risk factors (history of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidaemia and smoking). DISCUSSION CBF velocity is strongly correlated with Hb level at all ages, and sex-differences in CBF velocity appear to be explained in major part by age-related sex-differences in Hb.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Mazzucco
- Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Linxin Li
- Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Maria Assuncao Tuna
- Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Peter M Rothwell
- Wolfson Centre for Prevention of Stroke and Dementia, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Kim K, Ko DS, Kim JW, Lee D, Son E, Kim HW, Song TJ, Kim YH. Association of smoking with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A systematic review, meta-analysis, and dose-response analysis. Tob Induc Dis 2024; 22:TID-22-13. [PMID: 38239315 PMCID: PMC10795623 DOI: 10.18332/tid/175731] [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: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting the voluntary motor nervous system. Several observational studies have provided conflicting results regarding the association between smoking and ALS. Therefore, our objective was to investigate this association through a systematic review, meta-analysis, and dose-response analysis. METHODS On 16 January 2023, we initially extracted records from medical databases, which included Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and ScienceDirect. We included case-control and cohort studies as eligible studies. Subgroup analyses were performed based on sex, study design, and current smoking. Restricted cubic-spline analysis was utilized to assess the dose-response relationship between smoking (pack-years) and ALS. RESULTS Twenty-eight case-control and four cohort studies met the inclusion criteria. The unadjusted OR for the overall association between smoking and ALS was 1.14 (95% CI: 1.06-1.22, I2=44%, p<0.001), and the adjusted OR (AOR) was 1.12 (95% CI: 1.03-1.21, I2=49%, p=0.009). Subgroup analysis revealed a more pronounced association among current smokers, with an AOR of 1.28 (95% CI: 1.10-1.49, I2=66%, p<0.001) and AOR of 1.28 (95% CI: 1.10-1.48, I2=58%, p=0.001). In the dose-response analysis, the non-linear model revealed an inverted U-shaped curve. CONCLUSIONS Our study provides evidence of a positive relationship between smoking and the risk of ALS. To mitigate the risk of developing ALS, discontinuing smoking, which is a modifiable risk factor, may be crucial.TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered in PROSPERO.IDENTIFIER: CRD42023388822.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kihun Kim
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Dai Sik Ko
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Gachon University Gil Medical Center, Incheon, Republic of Korea
| | - Jin-Woo Kim
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University Medical Center, Republic of Korea
| | - Dongjun Lee
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunjeong Son
- Division of Respiratory and Allergy, Department of Internal Medicine, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Woo Kim
- Department of Neurology, Pusan National University Yangsan Hospital, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
| | - Tae-Jin Song
- Department of Neurology, Seoul Hospital, Ewha Womans University College of Medicine, Gangseo-gu, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Hak Kim
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Yangsan, Republic of Korea
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Schlueter DJ, Sulieman L, Mo H, Keaton JM, Ferrara TM, Williams A, Qian J, Stubblefield O, Zeng C, Tran TC, Bastarache L, Dai J, Babbar A, Ramirez A, Goleva SB, Denny JC. Systematic replication of smoking disease associations using survey responses and EHR data in the All of Us Research Program. J Am Med Inform Assoc 2023; 31:139-153. [PMID: 37885303 PMCID: PMC10746325 DOI: 10.1093/jamia/ocad205] [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: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The All of Us Research Program (All of Us) aims to recruit over a million participants to further precision medicine. Essential to the verification of biobanks is a replication of known associations to establish validity. Here, we evaluated how well All of Us data replicated known cigarette smoking associations. MATERIALS AND METHODS We defined smoking exposure as follows: (1) an EHR Smoking exposure that used International Classification of Disease codes; (2) participant provided information (PPI) Ever Smoking; and, (3) PPI Current Smoking, both from the lifestyle survey. We performed a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) for each smoking exposure measurement type. For each, we compared the effect sizes derived from the PheWAS to published meta-analyses that studied cigarette smoking from PubMed. We defined two levels of replication of meta-analyses: (1) nominally replicated: which required agreement of direction of effect size, and (2) fully replicated: which required overlap of confidence intervals. RESULTS PheWASes with EHR Smoking, PPI Ever Smoking, and PPI Current Smoking revealed 736, 492, and 639 phenome-wide significant associations, respectively. We identified 165 meta-analyses representing 99 distinct phenotypes that could be matched to EHR phenotypes. At P < .05, 74 were nominally replicated and 55 were fully replicated. At P < 2.68 × 10-5 (Bonferroni threshold), 58 were nominally replicated and 40 were fully replicated. DISCUSSION Most phenotypes found in published meta-analyses associated with smoking were nominally replicated in All of Us. Both survey and EHR definitions for smoking produced similar results. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated the feasibility of studying common exposures using All of Us data.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Schlueter
- Precision Health Informatics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Department of Health and Society, University of Toronto, Scarborough, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lina Sulieman
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Huan Mo
- Precision Health Informatics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- The Cohort Analytics Core (CAC), Center for Precision Health Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jacob M Keaton
- Precision Health Informatics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Tracey M Ferrara
- Precision Health Informatics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Ariel Williams
- Precision Health Informatics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Jun Qian
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Onajia Stubblefield
- Precision Health Informatics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Chenjie Zeng
- Precision Health Informatics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Tam C Tran
- Precision Health Informatics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- The Cohort Analytics Core (CAC), Center for Precision Health Research, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Lisa Bastarache
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Jian Dai
- Precision Health Informatics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Anav Babbar
- Precision Health Informatics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Andrea Ramirez
- Precision Health Informatics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
- Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Slavina B Goleva
- Precision Health Informatics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Joshua C Denny
- Precision Health Informatics Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, United States
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Zhao Y, Ray A, Broberg K, Kippler M, Lill CM, Vineis P, Katzke VA, Rodriguez‐Barranco M, Chirlaque M, Guevara M, Gómez J, Hansen J, Panico S, Middleton LT, Masala G, Pala V, Vinagre‐Aragon A, Zibetti M, Vermeulen R, Peters S. Prediagnostic Blood Metal Levels and the Risk of Parkinson's Disease: A Large European Prospective Cohort. Mov Disord 2023; 38:2302-2307. [PMID: 37675653 PMCID: PMC10946475 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29602] [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: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metals have been postulated as environmental concerns in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD), but metal levels are typically measured after diagnosis, which might be subject to reverse causality. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the association between prediagnostic blood metal levels and PD risk. METHODS A case-control study was nested in a prospective European cohort, using erythrocyte samples collected before PD diagnosis. RESULTS Most assessed metals were not associated with PD risk. Cadmium has a suggestive negative association with PD (odds ratio [95% confidence interval] for the highest quartile, 0.70 [0.42-1.17]), which diminished among never smokers. Among current smokers only, lead was associated with decreased PD risk (0.06 [0.01-0.35]), whereas arsenic showed associations toward an increased PD risk (1.85 [0.45-7.93]). CONCLUSIONS We observe no strong evidence to support a role of metals in the development of PD. In particular, smoking may confound the association with tobacco-derived metals. © 2023 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujia Zhao
- Institute for Risk Assessment SciencesUtrecht UniversityUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Anushree Ray
- Institute for Risk Assessment SciencesUtrecht UniversityUtrechtthe Netherlands
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia ResearchLudwig‐Maximilians‐University of MunichMunichGermany
| | - Karin Broberg
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska InstituteStockholmSweden
| | - Maria Kippler
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska InstituteStockholmSweden
| | - Christina M. Lill
- Institute of Epidemiology and Social MedicineUniversity of MünsterMünsterGermany
- Ageing Epidemiology Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Paolo Vineis
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Verena A. Katzke
- Division of Cancer EpidemiologyGerman Cancer Research CenterHeidelbergGermany
| | - Miguel Rodriguez‐Barranco
- Escuela Andaluza de Salud PúblicaGranadaSpain
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADAGranadaSpain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud PúblicaMadridSpain
| | - María‐Dolores Chirlaque
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud PúblicaMadridSpain
- Department of EpidemiologyRegional Health Council, IMIB‐Arrixaca, Murcia UniversityMurciaSpain
| | - Marcela Guevara
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud PúblicaMadridSpain
- Instituto de Salud Pública y Laboral de NavarraPamplonaSpain
- Navarra Institute for Health ResearchPamplonaSpain
| | - Jesús‐Humberto Gómez
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud PúblicaMadridSpain
- Department of EpidemiologyRegional Health Council, IMIB‐Arrixaca, Murcia UniversityMurciaSpain
| | - Johnni Hansen
- Danish Cancer Institute, Danish Cancer SocietyCopenhagenDenmark
| | | | - Lefkos T. Middleton
- Ageing Epidemiology Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Giovanna Masala
- Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical NetworkFlorenceItaly
| | - Valeria Pala
- Epidemiology and Prevention UnitFondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di MilanoMilanItaly
| | - Ana Vinagre‐Aragon
- Movement Disorders Unit, Department of NeurologyUniversity Hospital DonostiaSan SebastianSpain
- Neurodegenerative Diseases AreaBioDonostia Health Research InstituteSan SebastiánSpain
| | - Maurizio Zibetti
- Department of Neuroscience “Rita Levi Montalcini”University of TurinTurinItaly
| | - Roel Vermeulen
- Institute for Risk Assessment SciencesUtrecht UniversityUtrechtthe Netherlands
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary CareUniversity Medical Centre UtrechtUtrechtthe Netherlands
| | - Susan Peters
- Institute for Risk Assessment SciencesUtrecht UniversityUtrechtthe Netherlands
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7
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Zhou Z, Kim J, Huang AY, Nolan M, Park J, Doan R, Shin T, Miller MB, Chhouk B, Morillo K, Yeh RC, Kenny C, Neil JE, Lee CZ, Ohkubo T, Ravits J, Ansorge O, Ostrow LW, Lagier-Tourenne C, Lee EA, Walsh CA. Somatic Mosaicism in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia Reveals Widespread Degeneration from Focal Mutations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.30.569436. [PMID: 38077003 PMCID: PMC10705414 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.30.569436] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Although mutations in dozens of genes have been implicated in familial forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (fALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (fFTD), most cases of these conditions are sporadic (sALS and sFTD), with no family history, and their etiology remains obscure. We tested the hypothesis that somatic mosaic mutations, present in some but not all cells, might contribute in these cases, by performing ultra-deep, targeted sequencing of 88 genes associated with neurodegenerative diseases in postmortem brain and spinal cord samples from 404 individuals with sALS or sFTD and 144 controls. Known pathogenic germline mutations were found in 20.6% of ALS, and 26.5% of FTD cases. Predicted pathogenic somatic mutations in ALS/FTD genes were observed in 2.7% of sALS and sFTD cases that did not carry known pathogenic or novel germline mutations. Somatic mutations showed low variant allele fraction (typically <2%) and were often restricted to the region of initial discovery, preventing detection through genetic screening in peripheral tissues. Damaging somatic mutations were preferentially enriched in primary motor cortex of sALS and prefrontal cortex of sFTD, mirroring regions most severely affected in each disease. Somatic mutation analysis of bulk RNA-seq data from brain and spinal cord from an additional 143 sALS cases and 23 controls confirmed an overall enrichment of somatic mutations in sALS. Two adult sALS cases were identified bearing pathogenic somatic mutations in DYNC1H1 and LMNA, two genes associated with pediatric motor neuron degeneration. Our study suggests that somatic mutations in fALS/fFTD genes, and in genes associated with more severe diseases in the germline state, contribute to sALS and sFTD, and that mosaic mutations in a small fraction of cells in focal regions of the nervous system can ultimately result in widespread degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zinan Zhou
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Junho Kim
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, South Korea
| | - August Yue Huang
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew Nolan
- Department of Neurology, The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Junseok Park
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan Doan
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Taehwan Shin
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael B. Miller
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Brian Chhouk
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katherine Morillo
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Rebecca C. Yeh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Connor Kenny
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer E. Neil
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Chao-Zong Lee
- Department of Neurology, The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Takuya Ohkubo
- Department of Neurology, Yokohama City Minato Red Cross Hospital, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - John Ravits
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, University of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Olaf Ansorge
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Lyle W. Ostrow
- Department of Neurology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, USA
| | - Clotilde Lagier-Tourenne
- Department of Neurology, The Sean M. Healey and AMG Center for ALS at Mass General, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Eunjung Alice Lee
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christopher A. Walsh
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Manton Center for Orphan Disease, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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8
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Ludolph A, Dupuis L, Kasarskis E, Steyn F, Ngo S, McDermott C. Nutritional and metabolic factors in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Nat Rev Neurol 2023; 19:511-524. [PMID: 37500993 DOI: 10.1038/s41582-023-00845-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a complex neurodegenerative disease that is classically thought to impact the motor system. Over the past 20 years, research has started to consider the contribution of non-motor symptoms and features of the disease, and how they might affect ALS prognosis. Of the non-motor features of the disease, nutritional status (for example, malnutrition) and metabolic balance (for example, weight loss and hypermetabolism) have been consistently shown to contribute to more rapid disease progression and/or earlier death. Several complex cellular changes observed in ALS, including mitochondrial dysfunction, are also starting to be shown to contribute to bioenergetic failure. The resulting energy depletion in high energy demanding neurons makes them sensitive to apoptosis. Given that nutritional and metabolic stressors at the whole-body and cellular level can impact the capacity to maintain optimal function, these factors present avenues through which we can identify novel targets for treatment in ALS. Several clinical trials are now underway evaluating the effectiveness of modifying energy balance in ALS, making this article timely in reviewing the evidence base for metabolic and nutritional interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Ludolph
- Department of Neurology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), Site Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Luc Dupuis
- Université de Strasbourg, Inserm, Mécanismes Centraux et Périphériques de la Neurodégénérescence, UMR-S1118, Centre de Recherches en Biomédecine, Strasbourg, France
| | - Edward Kasarskis
- Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Frederik Steyn
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Shyuan Ngo
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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9
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Boyle J, Wheeler DC, Naum R, Burke Brockenbrough P, Gebhardt M, Smith L, Harrell T, Stewart D, Gwathmey K. Analysis of the spatial distribution of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in Virginia. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2023:1-9. [PMID: 37452450 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2023.2236653] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
Objective: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is usually fatal. Environmental exposures have been posited in the etiology of ALS, but few studies have modeled the spatial risk of ALS over large geographic areas. In this paper, our goal was to analyze the spatial distribution of ALS in Virginia and identify any areas with significantly elevated risk using Virginia ALS Association administrative data. Methods: We used Bayesian hierarchical spatial regression models to estimate the relative risk for ALS in Virginia census tracts, adjusting for several covariates posited to be associated with the disease. We used an intrinsic conditional autoregressive prior to allow for spatial correlation in the risk estimates and stabilize estimates over space. Results: Considerable variation in ALS risk existed across Virginia, with greater relative risk found in the central and western parts of the state. We identified significantly elevated relative risk in a number of census tracts. In particular, Henrico, Albemarle, and Botetourt counties all contained at least four census tracts with significantly elevated risk. Conclusions: We identified several areas with significantly elevated ALS risk across Virginia census tracts. These results can inform future studies of potential environmental triggers for the disease, whose etiology is still being understood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Boyle
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - David C Wheeler
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Ryan Naum
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA, and
| | - Paula Burke Brockenbrough
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA, and
| | - Michelle Gebhardt
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA, and
| | - LaVon Smith
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA, and
| | | | | | - Kelly Gwathmey
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA, and
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10
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Calluori S, Stark R, Pearson BL. Gene-Environment Interactions in Repeat Expansion Diseases: Mechanisms of Environmentally Induced Repeat Instability. Biomedicines 2023; 11:515. [PMID: 36831049 PMCID: PMC9953593 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11020515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Short tandem repeats (STRs) are units of 1-6 base pairs that occur in tandem repetition to form a repeat tract. STRs exhibit repeat instability, which generates expansions or contractions of the repeat tract. Over 50 diseases, primarily affecting the central nervous system and muscles, are characterized by repeat instability. Longer repeat tracts are typically associated with earlier age of onset and increased disease severity. Environmental exposures are suspected to play a role in the pathogenesis of repeat expansion diseases. Here, we review the current knowledge of mechanisms of environmentally induced repeat instability in repeat expansion diseases. The current evidence demonstrates that environmental factors modulate repeat instability via DNA damage and induction of DNA repair pathways, with distinct mechanisms for repeat expansion and contraction. Of particular note, oxidative stress is a key mediator of environmentally induced repeat instability. The preliminary evidence suggests epigenetic modifications as potential mediators of environmentally induced repeat instability. Future research incorporating an array of environmental exposures, new human cohorts, and improved model systems, with a continued focus on cell-types, tissues, and critical windows, will aid in identifying mechanisms of environmentally induced repeat instability. Identifying environmental modulators of repeat instability and their mechanisms of action will inform preventions, therapies, and public health measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Calluori
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
- Barnard College of Columbia University, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027, USA
| | - Rebecca Stark
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Brandon L. Pearson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health Columbia University, New York, NY 10032, USA
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11
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Kreple CJ, Searles Nielsen S, Schoch KM, Shen T, Shabsovich M, Song Y, Racette BA, Miller TM. Protective Effects of Lovastatin in a Population-Based ALS Study and Mouse Model. Ann Neurol 2023; 93:881-892. [PMID: 36627836 DOI: 10.1002/ana.26600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to use a novel combined pharmacoepidemiologic and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) mouse model approach to identify potential motor neuron protective medications. METHODS We constructed a large, population-based case-control study to investigate motor neuron disease (MND) among US Medicare beneficiaries aged 66 to 90 in 2009. We included 1,128 incident MND cases and 56,400 age, sex, race, and ethnicity matched controls. We calculated MND relative risk for >1,000 active ingredients represented in Part D (pharmacy) claims in 2006 to 2007 (>1 year before diagnosis/reference). We then applied a comprehensive screening approach to select medications for testing in SOD1G93A mice: sulfasalazine, telmisartan, and lovastatin. We treated mice with the human dose equivalent of the medication or vehicle via subcutaneous osmotic pump before onset of weakness. We then assessed weight, gait, and survival. In additional mice, we conducted histological studies. RESULTS We observed previously established medical associations for MND and an inverse dose-response association between lovastatin and MND, with 28% reduced risk at 40 mg/day. In SOD1G93A mouse studies, sulfasalazine and telmisartan conferred no benefit, whereas lovastatin treatment delayed onset and prolonged survival. Lovastatin treated mice also had less microgliosis, misfolded SOD1, and spinal motor neuron loss in the ventral horn. INTERPRETATION Lovastatin reduced the risk of ALS in humans, which was confirmed in an ALS mouse model by delayed symptom onset, prolonged survival, and preservation of motor neurons. Although further studies to understand the mechanism are required, lovastatin may represent a potential neuroprotective therapy for patients with ALS. These data demonstrate the utility of a combined pharmacoepidemiologic and mouse model approach. ANN NEUROL 2023.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin J Kreple
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | | | - Kathleen M Schoch
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Tao Shen
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Mark Shabsovich
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Yizhe Song
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - Brad A Racette
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.,Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ.,School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown, South Africa
| | - Timothy M Miller
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
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12
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Abdel Magid HS, Topol B, McGuire V, Hinman JA, Kasarskis EJ, Nelson LM. Cardiovascular Diseases, Medications, and ALS: A Population-Based Case-Control Study. Neuroepidemiology 2022; 56:423-432. [PMID: 36481735 PMCID: PMC9986836 DOI: 10.1159/000526982] [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: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We investigated the associations between antecedent all-cause CVD diagnoses, cause-specific CVD diagnosis, and CVD medication prescriptions with the risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a population-based case-control study of U.S. Medicare enrollees from 2006 to 2013. The final sample included 3,714 incident ALS cases and 18,570 controls (matched on age, sex, enrollment length, and county). Information was collected from Medicare Parts A, B, and D administrative claims data on hypertension, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, atrial fibrillation, prescriptions of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II receptors blockers, calcium channel blockers, beta blockers, and antiarrhythmics. Associations were evaluated using conditional logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, race/ethnicity, geographical location, alcohol and tobacco use, and socioeconomic status. RESULTS The odds ratio (OR) for having one or more ICD-9 codes for any cardiovascular disease diagnosis at least 24 months prior to the date of ALS diagnosis was 0.85 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78-0.92). Cardiovascular conditions that were inversely associated with ALS included heart failure (OR = 0.79; 95% CI 0.70-0.89), atrial fibrillation (OR = 0.81; 95% CI 0.77-0.92), and hypertension (OR = 0.91; 95% CI 0.84-0.98). Exposures to several classes of cardiovascular medications were inversely associated with ALS risk even after adjusting for confounding by indication, including ACE inhibitors (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.77-0.91), calcium channel blockers (OR = 0.64, 95% CI 0.59-0.70), and beta blockers (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.71-0.83). DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION These findings merit additional research, including animal studies and pilot clinical trials, to further evaluate and evidence the effects of ACEIs, CCBs, and BBs on the risk of developing and clinical expression of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hoda S Abdel Magid
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA,
- Stanford Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA,
| | - Barbara Topol
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Valerie McGuire
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Jessica A Hinman
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Edward J Kasarskis
- Department of Neurology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Lorene M Nelson
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Stanford Center for Population Health Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
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13
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Weisskopf MG, Levy J, Dickerson AS, Paganoni S, Leventer-Roberts M. Statin Medications and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Incidence and Mortality. Am J Epidemiol 2022; 191:1248-1257. [PMID: 35333291 PMCID: PMC9393061 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwac054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2021] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Studies of statins and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) incidence and survival have had conflicting findings possibly related to difficulties with confounding by indication. We considered potency of statins used and duration of use to explore confounding by indication. Within the Clalit Health Services in Israel, we identified 948 ALS case patients from 2004 through 2017 and matched them with 1,000 control subjects each. Any statin use up to 3 years before ALS onset was not associated with ALS incidence but was associated with a reduced hazard ratio (HR) for death. Odds of ALS did not vary by statin potency, but use of only lower-potency statins was associated with longer survival (HR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.68, 0.98), whereas the association with higher-potency statins was null compared with those case patients who did not use statins. However, duration of statin use appeared to account for these findings. Those who used statins only up to 3 years had longer survival (HR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.61, 0.96) than did case patients who did not use statins, but those who used statins for >3 years did not. Although other explanations are possible, these findings could suggest a protective effect of statins on ALS survival that is partially masked by a worse prognosis from underlying reasons for taking statins that deserves further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc G Weisskopf
- Correspondence to Marc Weisskopf, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue Building 1, Suite 1402, Boston, MA 02115 (e-mail: )
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14
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Edgar JA, Molyneux RJ, Colegate SM. 1,2-Dehydropyrrolizidine Alkaloids: Their Potential as a Dietary Cause of Sporadic Motor Neuron Diseases. Chem Res Toxicol 2022; 35:340-354. [PMID: 35238548 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sporadic motor neuron diseases (MNDs), such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), can be caused by spontaneous genetic mutations. However, many sporadic cases of ALS and other debilitating neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) are believed to be caused by environmental factors, subject to considerable debate and requiring intensive research. A common pathology associated with MND development involves progressive mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress in motor neurons and glial cells of the central nervous system (CNS), leading to apoptosis. Consequent degeneration of skeletal and respiratory muscle cells can lead to death from respiratory failure. A significant number of MND cases present with cancers and liver and lung pathology. This Perspective explores the possibility that MNDs could be caused by intermittent, low-level dietary exposure to 1,2-dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids (1,2-dehydroPAs) that are increasingly recognized as contaminants of many foods consumed throughout the world. Nontoxic, per se, 1,2-dehydroPAs are metabolized, by particular cytochrome P450 (CYP450) isoforms, to 6,7-dihydropyrrolizines that react with nucleophilic groups (-NH, -SH, -OH) on DNA, proteins, and other vital biochemicals, such as glutathione. Many factors, including aging, gender, smoking, and alcohol consumption, influence CYP450 isoform activity in a range of tissues, including glial cells and neurons of the CNS. Activation of 1,2-dehydroPAs in CNS cells can be expected to cause gene mutations and oxidative stress, potentially leading to the development of MNDs and other NDDs. While relatively high dietary exposure to 1,2-dehydroPAs causes hepatic sinusoidal obstruction syndrome, pulmonary venoocclusive disease, neurotoxicity, and diverse cancers, this Perspective suggests that, at current intermittent, low levels of dietary exposure, neurotoxicity could become the primary pathology that develops over time in susceptible individuals, along with a tendency for some of them to also display liver and lung pathology and diverse cancers co-occurring with some MND/NDD cases. Targeted research is recommended to investigate this proposal.
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Affiliation(s)
- John A Edgar
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 11 Julius Avenue, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, Australia
| | - Russell J Molyneux
- Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawaii at Hilo, 200 West Kawili Street, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, United States
| | - Steven M Colegate
- Poisonous Plant Research Laboratory, ARS/USDA, 1150 East 1400 North, Logan, Utah 84341, United States
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15
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Vasta R, Chia R, Traynor BJ, Chiò A. Unraveling the complex interplay between genes, environment, and climate in ALS. EBioMedicine 2022; 75:103795. [PMID: 34974309 PMCID: PMC8728044 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2021.103795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 12/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Various genetic and environmental risk factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Despite this, the cause of most ALS cases remains obscure. In this review, we describe the current evidence implicating genetic and environmental factors in motor neuron degeneration. While the risk exerted by many environmental factors may appear small, their effect could be magnified by the presence of a genetic predisposition. We postulate that gene-environment interactions account for at least a portion of the unknown etiology in ALS. Climate underlies multiple environmental factors, some of which have been implied in ALS etiology, and the impact of global temperature increase on the gene-environment interactions should be carefully monitored. We describe the main concepts underlying such interactions. Although a lack of large cohorts with detailed genetic and environmental information hampers the search for gene-environment interactions, newer algorithms and machine learning approaches offer an opportunity to break this stalemate. Understanding how genetic and environmental factors interact to cause ALS may ultimately pave the way towards precision medicine becoming an integral part of ALS care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Vasta
- ALS Center, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, via Cherasco 15, Turin 1026, Italy; Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Ruth Chia
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Bryan J Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging (NIH), Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 1PJ, UK; Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA; ASO Rapid Development Laboratory, Therapeutics Development Branch, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Adriano Chiò
- ALS Center, Department of Neuroscience "Rita Levi Montalcini", University of Turin, via Cherasco 15, Turin 1026, Italy; Institute of Cognitive Sciences and Technologies, C.N.R., Rome 00185, Italy; Neurology 1, AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino, Turin, Italy.
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16
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Thompson AG, Talbot K, Turner MR. Higher blood high density lipoprotein and apolipoprotein A1 levels are associated with reduced risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2022; 93:75-81. [PMID: 34518331 PMCID: PMC8685635 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-327133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Premorbid body mass index, physical activity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease have been associated with an altered risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). There is evidence of shared genetic risk between ALS and lipid metabolism. A very large prospective longitudinal population cohort permits the study of a range of metabolic parameters and the risk of subsequent diagnosis of ALS. METHODS The risk of subsequent ALS diagnosis in those enrolled prospectively to the UK Biobank (n=502 409) was examined in relation to baseline levels of blood high and low density lipoprotein (HDL, LDL), total cholesterol, total cholesterol:HDL ratio, apolipoproteins A1 and B (apoA1, apoB), triglycerides, glycated haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) and creatinine, plus self-reported exercise and body mass index. RESULTS Controlling for age and sex, higher HDL (HR 0.84, 95% CI 0.73 to 0.96, p=0.010) and apoA1 (HR 0.83, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.94, p=0.005) were associated with a reduced risk of ALS. Higher total cholesterol:HDL was associated with an increased risk of ALS (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.31, p=0.006). In models incorporating multiple metabolic markers, higher LDL or apoB was associated with an increased risk of ALS, in addition to a lower risk with higher HDL or apoA. Coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease and increasing age were also associated with an increased risk of ALS. CONCLUSIONS The association of HDL, apoA1 and LDL levels with risk of ALS contributes to an increasing body of evidence that the premorbid metabolic landscape may play a role in pathogenesis. Understanding the molecular basis for these changes will inform presymptomatic biomarker development and therapeutic targeting.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kevin Talbot
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Martin R Turner
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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17
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No association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion polymorphisms and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: a genetic study in Brazilian patients. Meta Gene 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mgene.2021.100979] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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18
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Spencer PS, Kisby GE. Role of Hydrazine-Related Chemicals in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Disease. Chem Res Toxicol 2021; 34:1953-1969. [PMID: 34379394 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.1c00150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hydrazine-related chemicals (HRCs) with carcinogenic and neurotoxic potential are found in certain mushrooms and plants used for food and in products employed in various industries, including aerospace. Their propensity to induce DNA damage (mostly O6-, N7- and 8-oxo-guanine lesions) resulting in multiple downstream effects is linked with both cancer and neurological disease. For cycling cells, unrepaired DNA damage leads to mutation and uncontrolled mitosis. By contrast, postmitotic neurons attempt to re-enter the cell cycle but undergo apoptosis or nonapoptotic cell death. Biomarkers of exposure to HRCs can be used to explore whether these substances are risk factors for sporadic amyotrophic laterals sclerosis and other noninherited neurodegenerative diseases, which is the focus of this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter S Spencer
- Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon 97239, United States
| | - Glen E Kisby
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Northwest, Western University of Health Sciences, Lebanon, Oregon 97355, United States
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19
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Nielsen SD, Pearson NM, Seidler K. The link between the gut microbiota and Parkinson's Disease: A systematic mechanism review with focus on α-synuclein transport. Brain Res 2021; 1769:147609. [PMID: 34371014 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2021.147609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Research has suggested a link between the gut microbiota and Parkinson's Disease (PD), and an early involvement of gastrointestinal dysfunction has been reported in patients. A mechanism review was performed to investigate whether the neurodegenerative cascade begins in the gut; mediated by gut dysbiosis and retrograde transport of α-synuclein. This review provides a summary of microbiome composition associated with PD, and evaluates pathophysiological mechanisms from animal and in vitro models of PD. METHOD A systematic literature search was performed in PubMed; 82 of 299 papers met the inclusion criteria. RESULTS All twenty-two human case-control studies demonstrated an altered gut microbiota in PD compared to healthy controls, with results suggesting a proinflammatory phenotype present in PD. A germ-free animal study has demonstrated that gut microbiota are required for microglia activation, α-synuclein pathology and motor deficits. Accumulation of phosphorylated α-synuclein has been observed in the enteric nervous system prior to the onset of motor symptoms in animal models of PD, and there is data to support retrograde transport of α-synuclein from the gut to the brain. Different animal models of PD have demonstrated neuroinflammation, microglial activation and loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. CONCLUSION Evidence from this review supports the hypothesis that pathology spreads from the gut to the brain. Future animal studies using oral LPS or microbiota transplants from human PD cases could provide further insight into the entire mechanism. Prospective longitudinal microbiome studies and novel modelling approaches could help to identify functional dysbiosis and early biomarkers for PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie D Nielsen
- Centre for Nutrition Education and Lifestyle Management (CNELM), Chapel Garden, 14 Rectory Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1DH, UK.
| | - Nicola M Pearson
- Centre for Nutrition Education and Lifestyle Management (CNELM), Chapel Garden, 14 Rectory Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1DH, UK
| | - Karin Seidler
- Centre for Nutrition Education and Lifestyle Management (CNELM), Chapel Garden, 14 Rectory Road, Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1DH, UK
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Zhang M, Xi Z, Saez-Atienzar S, Chia R, Moreno D, Sato C, Montazer Haghighi M, Traynor BJ, Zinman L, Rogaeva E. Combined epigenetic/genetic study identified an ALS age of onset modifier. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2021; 9:75. [PMID: 33892821 PMCID: PMC8066440 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-021-01183-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Age at onset of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is highly variable (eg, 27-74 years in carriers of the G4C2-expansion in C9orf72). It might be influenced by environmental and genetic factors via the modulation of DNA methylation (DNAm) at CpG-sites. Hence, we combined an epigenetic and genetic approach to test the hypothesis that some common single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at CpG-sites (CpG-SNPs) could modify ALS age of onset. Our genome-wide DNAm analysis suggested three CpG-SNPs whose DNAm levels are significantly associated with age of onset in 249 ALS patients (q < 0.05). Next, genetic analysis validated the association of rs4970944 with age of onset in the discovery (n = 469; P = 0.025) and replication (n = 4160; P = 0.007) ALS cohorts. A meta-analysis of the cohorts combined showed that the median onset in AA-carriers is two years later than in GG-carriers (n = 4629; P = 0.0012). A similar association was observed with its tagging SNPs, implicating a 16 Kb region at the 1q21.3 locus as a modifier of ALS age of onset. Notably, rs4970944 genotypes are also associated with age of onset in C9orf72-carriers (n = 333; P = 0.025), suggesting that each A-allele delays onset by 1.6 years. Analysis of Genotype-Tissue Expression data revealed that the protective A-allele is linked with the reduced expression of CTSS in cerebellum (P = 0.00018), which is a critical brain region in the distributed neural circuits subserving motor control. CTSS encodes cathepsin S protein playing a key role in antigen presentation. In conclusion, we identified a 16 Kb locus tagged by rs4970944 as a modifier of ALS age of onset. Our findings support the role of antigen presenting processes in modulating age of onset of ALS and suggest potential drug targets (eg, CTSS). Future replication studies are encouraged to validate the link between the locus tagged by rs4970944 and age of onset in independent ALS cohorts, including different ethnic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhang
- Shanghai First Rehabilitation Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200090, China.
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada.
- Clinical Center for Brain and Spinal Cord Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Institute for Advanced Study, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Zhengrui Xi
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Sara Saez-Atienzar
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Ruth Chia
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Danielle Moreno
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Christine Sato
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Mahdi Montazer Haghighi
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Bryan J Traynor
- Neuromuscular Diseases Research Section, Laboratory of Neurogenetics, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Lorne Zinman
- Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON, M4N 3M5, Canada
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ekaterina Rogaeva
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard Ave., Toronto, ON, M5T 0S8, Canada.
- Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.
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21
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Abstract
Cigarette smoke (CS) has been consistently demonstrated to be an environmental risk factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), although the molecular pathogenic mechanisms involved are yet to be elucidated. Here, we propose different mechanisms by which CS exposure can cause sporadic ALS pathogenesis. Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are widely implicated in ALS pathogenesis, with blood–spinal cord barrier disruption also recognised to be involved in the disease process. In addition, immunometabolic, epigenetic and microbiome alterations have been implicated in ALS recently. Identification of the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms that underpin CS-associated ALS will drive future research to be conducted into new targets for treatment.
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22
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Källstig E, McCabe BD, Schneider BL. The Links between ALS and NF-κB. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22083875. [PMID: 33918092 PMCID: PMC8070122 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22083875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2021] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease wherein motor neuron degeneration leads to muscle weakness, progressive paralysis, and death within 3–5 years of diagnosis. Currently, the cause of ALS is unknown but, as with several neurodegenerative diseases, the potential role of neuroinflammation has become an increasingly popular hypothesis in ALS research. Indeed, upregulation of neuroinflammatory factors have been observed in both ALS patients and animal models. One such factor is the inflammatory inducer NF-κB. Besides its connection to inflammation, NF-κB activity can be linked to several genes associated to familial forms of ALS, and many of the environmental risk factors of the disease stimulate NF-κB activation. Collectively, this has led many to hypothesize that NF-κB proteins may play a role in ALS pathogenesis. In this review, we discuss the genetic and environmental connections between NF-κB and ALS, as well as how this pathway may affect different CNS cell types, and finally how this may lead to motor neuron degeneration.
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23
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Barros JBDS, Santos KDF, Azevedo RM, de Oliveira RPD, Leobas ACD, Bento DDCP, Santos RDS, Reis AADS. No association of GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A case-control study in the Brazilian population. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0247024. [PMID: 33606765 PMCID: PMC7894827 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0247024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a rare neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons and promotes progressive muscle atrophy. It has a multifactorial etiology, where environmental conditions playing a remarkable role through the increase of oxidative stress. Genetic polymorphisms in cell detoxification genes, such as Glutathione S-Transferase Pi 1 (GSTP1) can contribute to excessive oxidative stress, and therefore may be a risk factor to ALS. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the role of the GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism in ALS susceptibility in different genetic inheritance models and evaluate the association of the genotypes with risk factors, clinical and demographic characteristics of ALS patients from the Brazilian central population. This case-control study was conducted with 101 patients with ALS and 101 healthy controls. GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism genotyping was performed with Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS statistical package and SNPStats software. Analysis of genetic inheritance models was performed by logistic regression, which was used to determine the Odds Ratio. The results of this first study in the Brazilian population demonstrated that there was no risk association between the development of ALS and the GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism in any genetic inheritance model (codominant, dominant, recessive, overdominant, and logarithmic); and that the polymorphic variants were not associated with the clinical and demographic characteristics of ALS patients. No association of the GSTP1 rs1695 polymorphism and ALS development in the Brazilian central population was found. These findings may be justified by the multifactorial character of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica Barletto de Sousa Barros
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Kamilla de Faria Santos
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Rômulo Morais Azevedo
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Rayana Pereira Dantas de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina Dourado Leobas
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | | | - Rodrigo da Silva Santos
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
| | - Angela Adamski da Silva Reis
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil
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24
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Opie-Martin S, Wootton RE, Budu-Aggrey A, Shatunov A, Jones AR, Iacoangeli A, Al Khleifat A, Davey-Smith G, Al-Chalabi A. Relationship between smoking and ALS: Mendelian randomisation interrogation of causality. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry 2020; 91:1312-1315. [PMID: 32848012 DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2020-323316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Smoking has been widely studied as a susceptibility factor for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but results are conflicting and at risk of confounding bias. We used the results of recently published large genome-wide association studies and Mendelian randomisation methods to reduce confounding to assess the relationship between smoking and ALS. METHODS Two genome-wide association studies investigating lifetime smoking (n=463 003) and ever smoking (n=1 232 091) were identified and used to define instrumental variables for smoking. A genome-wide association study of ALS (20 806 cases; 59 804 controls) was used as the outcome for inverse variance weighted Mendelian randomisation, and four other Mendelian randomisation methods, to test whether smoking is causal for ALS. Analyses were bidirectional to assess reverse causality. RESULTS There was no strong evidence for a causal or reverse causal relationship between smoking and ALS. The results of Mendelian randomisation using the inverse variance weighted method were: lifetime smoking OR 0.94 (95% CI 0.74 to 1.19), p value 0.59; ever smoking OR 1.10 (95% CI 1 to 1.23), p value 0.05. CONCLUSIONS Using multiple methods, large sample sizes and sensitivity analyses, we find no evidence with Mendelian randomisation techniques that smoking causes ALS. Other smoking phenotypes, such as current smoking, may be suitable for future Mendelian randomisation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Opie-Martin
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Robyn E Wootton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.,NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ashley Budu-Aggrey
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Aleksey Shatunov
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ashley R Jones
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alfredo Iacoangeli
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ahmad Al Khleifat
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - George Davey-Smith
- NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK .,Department of Neurology, King's College Hospital, London SE5 9RS, United Kingdom
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25
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Western Pacific ALS-PDC: Evidence implicating cycad genotoxins. J Neurol Sci 2020; 419:117185. [PMID: 33190068 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2020.117185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 09/20/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Parkinsonism-Dementia Complex (ALS-PDC) is a disappearing neurodegenerative disorder of apparent environmental origin formerly hyperendemic among Chamorros of Guam-USA, Japanese residents of the Kii Peninsula, Honshu Island, Japan and Auyu-Jakai linguistic groups of Papua-Indonesia on the island of New Guinea. The most plausible etiology is exposure to genotoxins in seed of neurotoxic cycad plants formerly used for food and/or medicine. Primary suspicion falls on methylazoxymethanol (MAM), the aglycone of cycasin and on the non-protein amino acid β-N-methylamino-L-alanine, both of which are metabolized to formaldehyde. Human and animal studies suggest: (a) exposures occurred early in life and sometimes during late fetal brain development, (b) clinical expression of neurodegenerative disease appeared years or decades later, and (c) pathological changes in various tissues indicate the disease was not confined to the CNS. Experimental evidence points to toxic molecular mechanisms involving DNA damage, epigenetic changes, transcriptional mutagenesis, neuronal cell-cycle reactivation and perturbation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system that led to polyproteinopathy and culminated in neuronal degeneration. Lessons learned from research on ALS-PDC include: (a) familial disease may reflect common toxic exposures across generations, (b) primary disease prevention follows cessation of exposure to culpable environmental triggers; and (c) disease latency provides a prolonged period during which to intervene therapeutically. Exposure to genotoxic chemicals ("slow toxins") in the early stages of life should be considered in the search for the etiology of ALS-PDC-related neurodegenerative disorders, including sporadic forms of ALS, progressive supranuclear palsy and Alzheimer's disease.
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26
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Opie-Martin S, Jones A, Iacoangeli A, Al-Khleifat A, Oumar M, Shaw PJ, Shaw CE, Morrison KE, Wootton RE, Davey-Smith G, Pearce N, Al-Chalabi A. UK case control study of smoking and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2020; 21:222-227. [PMID: 32301340 PMCID: PMC7261396 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2019.1706580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Susceptibility to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is associated with smoking in some studies, but it is not clear which aspect of smoking behavior is related. Using detailed records of lifetime smoking we investigated the relationship between smoking and ALS in a UK population. Methods: In this retrospective case-control study, smoking status was collected using environmental questionnaires from people diagnosed with ALS between 2008 and 2013 and from age, sex and geographically matched controls. Categorical measures of smoking behavior were: smoking at the time of survey and smoking initiation; continuous measures were intensity (cigarettes per day), duration (years from starting to stopping or time of survey), cigarette pack years, and comprehensive smoking index (CSI), a measure of lifetime smoking. We used logistic regression to assess the risk of ALS with different combinations of smoking variables adjusted for age at survey, gender, level of education, smoking status and alcohol initiation, selecting the best model using the Akaike Information Criterion. Results: There were 388 records with full smoking history. The best-fitting model used CSI and smoking status at the time of survey. We found a weak association between current smoking and risk of ALS, OR 3.63 (95% CI 1.02-13.9) p value 0.05. Increase in CSI score did not increase risk of ALS: OR 0.81 (95% CI 0.58-1.11) p value 0.2.Conclusion: There is weak evidence of a positive effect of current smoking on the risk of ALS which does not show dose-dependence with higher levels of lifetime smoking and maybe a false positive result.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Opie-Martin
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ashley Jones
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alfredo Iacoangeli
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ahmad Al-Khleifat
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mohamed Oumar
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Pamela J Shaw
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Chris E Shaw
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Karen E Morrison
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Robyn E Wootton
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom.,NIHR Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - George Davey-Smith
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Neil Pearce
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- School of Psychological Science, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
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27
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Baydur A. Patterns of VC Decline in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. A More Robust Prognostication? Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2020; 200:1461-1462. [PMID: 31381864 PMCID: PMC6909827 DOI: 10.1164/rccm.201907-1440ed] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Baydur
- Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep MedicineUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
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28
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Armon C. Smoking is a cause of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. High low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels? Unsure. Ann Neurol 2020; 85:465-469. [PMID: 30875450 DOI: 10.1002/ana.25468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carmel Armon
- Tel Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel.,Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) Medical Center, Zerifin, Israel
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29
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Filippini T, Fiore M, Tesauro M, Malagoli C, Consonni M, Violi F, Arcolin E, Iacuzio L, Oliveri Conti G, Cristaldi A, Zuccarello P, Zucchi E, Mazzini L, Pisano F, Gagliardi I, Patti F, Mandrioli J, Ferrante M, Vinceti M. Clinical and Lifestyle Factors and Risk of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Population-Based Case-Control Study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17030857. [PMID: 32019087 PMCID: PMC7037077 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17030857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive, fatal neurodegenerative disease of the motor neurons. The etiology of ALS remains largely unknown, particularly with reference to the potential environmental determinants. Methods: We performed a population-based case-control study in four provinces from both Northern and Southern Italy in order to assess non-genetic ALS risk factors by collecting through tailored questionnaires information about clinical and lifestyle factors. We estimated ALS risk by calculating odds ratio (OR) with its 95% confidence interval (CI) using unconditional logistic regression models adjusted for sex, age and educational attainment. Results: We recruited 230 participants (95 cases and 135 controls). We found a possible positive association of ALS risk with trauma, particularly head trauma (OR = 2.61, 95% CI 1.19–5.72), electric shock (OR = 2.09, 95% CI 0.62–7.06), and some sports, although at a competitive level only. In addition, our results suggest an increased risk for subjects reporting use of private wells for drinking water (OR = 1.38, 95% CI 0.73–2.27) and for use of herbicides during gardening (OR = 1.95, 95% CI 0.88–2.27). Conversely, there was a suggestion of an inverse association with overall fish consumption (OR = 0.27, 95% CI 0.12–0.60), but with no dose-response relation. Consumption of some dietary supplements, namely those containing amino acids and, in the Southern Italy population, vitamins and minerals such as selenium, seemed associated with a statistically imprecise increased risk. Conclusions: Our results suggest a potential etiologic role a number of clinical and lifestyle factors with ALS risk. However, caution is needed due to some study limitations. These include the small sample size and the low number of exposed subjects, which affect statistical precision of risk estimates, the potential for exposure misclassification, and the uncertainties about mechanisms underpinning the possible association between these factors and disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tommaso Filippini
- CREAGEN—Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (T.F.); (C.M.); (F.V.); (E.A.); (L.I.)
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Maria Fiore
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G. F. Ingrassia”, Catania University, 95123 Catania, Italy; (M.F.); (G.O.C.); (A.C.); (P.Z.); (F.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Marina Tesauro
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; (M.T.); (M.C.)
| | - Carlotta Malagoli
- CREAGEN—Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (T.F.); (C.M.); (F.V.); (E.A.); (L.I.)
| | - Michela Consonni
- Department of Biomedical, Surgical and Dental Sciences, University of Milan, 20122 Milan, Italy; (M.T.); (M.C.)
| | - Federica Violi
- CREAGEN—Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (T.F.); (C.M.); (F.V.); (E.A.); (L.I.)
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, 42122 Reggio Emilia, Italy
| | - Elisa Arcolin
- CREAGEN—Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (T.F.); (C.M.); (F.V.); (E.A.); (L.I.)
| | - Laura Iacuzio
- CREAGEN—Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (T.F.); (C.M.); (F.V.); (E.A.); (L.I.)
- Department of Public Health, Local Health Unit, 41121 Modena, Italy
| | - Gea Oliveri Conti
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G. F. Ingrassia”, Catania University, 95123 Catania, Italy; (M.F.); (G.O.C.); (A.C.); (P.Z.); (F.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Antonio Cristaldi
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G. F. Ingrassia”, Catania University, 95123 Catania, Italy; (M.F.); (G.O.C.); (A.C.); (P.Z.); (F.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Pietro Zuccarello
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G. F. Ingrassia”, Catania University, 95123 Catania, Italy; (M.F.); (G.O.C.); (A.C.); (P.Z.); (F.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Elisabetta Zucchi
- Neurology Unit, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy;
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- ALS Centre Department of Neurology, ‘Maggiore della Carità’ University Hospital, 28100 Novara, Italy; (L.M.); (I.G.)
| | - Fabrizio Pisano
- Neurological Rehabilitation Division, Policlinico San Marco di Zingonia, 24046 Zingonia (BG), Italy;
| | - Ileana Gagliardi
- ALS Centre Department of Neurology, ‘Maggiore della Carità’ University Hospital, 28100 Novara, Italy; (L.M.); (I.G.)
| | - Francesco Patti
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G. F. Ingrassia”, Catania University, 95123 Catania, Italy; (M.F.); (G.O.C.); (A.C.); (P.Z.); (F.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Jessica Mandrioli
- Neurology Unit, Department of Neuroscience, S. Agostino Estense Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria di Modena, 41126 Modena, Italy;
| | - Margherita Ferrante
- Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G. F. Ingrassia”, Catania University, 95123 Catania, Italy; (M.F.); (G.O.C.); (A.C.); (P.Z.); (F.P.); (M.F.)
| | - Marco Vinceti
- CREAGEN—Environmental, Genetic and Nutritional Epidemiology Research Center, Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy; (T.F.); (C.M.); (F.V.); (E.A.); (L.I.)
- Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Correspondence:
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30
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Vlaar T, Elbaz A, Moisan F. Is the incidence of motor neuron disease higher in French military personnel? Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2019; 21:107-115. [DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2019.1675709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tim Vlaar
- INSERM, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, U1018, University Paris-Sud, Villejuif, France and
- Santé publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Alexis Elbaz
- INSERM, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, U1018, University Paris-Sud, Villejuif, France and
- Santé publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
| | - Frédéric Moisan
- INSERM, Centre for Research in Epidemiology and Population Health, U1018, University Paris-Sud, Villejuif, France and
- Santé publique France, Saint-Maurice, France
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31
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Lian L, Liu M, Cui L, Guan Y, Liu T, Cui B, Zhang K, Tai H, Shen D. Environmental risk factors and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): A case-control study of ALS in China. J Clin Neurosci 2019; 66:12-18. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2019.05.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Spencer PS. Hypothesis: Etiologic and Molecular Mechanistic Leads for Sporadic Neurodegenerative Diseases Based on Experience With Western Pacific ALS/PDC. Front Neurol 2019; 10:754. [PMID: 31417480 PMCID: PMC6685391 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2019.00754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Seventy years of research on Western Pacific amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and Parkinsonism-dementia Complex (ALS/PDC) have provided invaluable data on the etiology, molecular pathogenesis and latency of this disappearing, largely environmental neurodegenerative disease. ALS/PDC is linked to genotoxic chemicals (notably methylazoxymethanol, MAM) derived from seed of the cycad plant (Cycas spp.) that were used as a traditional food and/or medicine in all three disease-affected Western Pacific populations. MAM, nitrosamines and hydrazines generate methyl free radicals that damage DNA (in the form of O6-methylguanine lesions) that can induce mutations in cycling cells and degenerative changes in post-mitotic cells, notably neurons. This paper explores exposures to naturally occurring and manmade sources of nitrosamines and hydrazines in association with sporadic forms of ALS (with or without frontotemporal degeneration), progressive supranuclear palsy, and Alzheimer disease. Research approaches are suggested to examine whether these associations might have etiological significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter S Spencer
- Department of Neurology, School of Medicine and Oregon Institute of Occupational Health Sciences, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, United States
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Zhan Y, Fang F. Smoking and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: A mendelian randomization study. Ann Neurol 2019; 85:482-484. [DOI: 10.1002/ana.25443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yiqiang Zhan
- The Department of Medical Epidemiology and BiostatisticsKarolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
| | - Fang Fang
- The Department of Medical Epidemiology and BiostatisticsKarolinska Institutet Stockholm Sweden
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Blecher R, Elliott MA, Yilmaz E, Dettori JR, Oskouian RJ, Patel A, Clarke A, Hutton M, McGuire R, Dunn R, DeVine J, Twaddle B, Chapman JR. Contact Sports as a Risk Factor for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Systematic Review. Global Spine J 2019; 9:104-118. [PMID: 30775214 PMCID: PMC6362556 DOI: 10.1177/2192568218813916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY DESIGN Systematic review. INTRODUCTION Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease, ultimately resulting in paralysis and death. The condition is considered to be caused by a complex interaction between environmental and genetic factors. Although vast genetic research has deciphered many of the molecular factors in ALS pathogenesis, the environmental factors have remained largely unknown. Recent evidence suggests that participation in certain types of sporting activities are associated with increased risk for ALS. OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that competitive sports at the highest level that involve repetitive concussive head and cervical spinal trauma result in an increased risk of ALS compared with the general population or nonsport controls. METHODS Electronic databases from inception to November 22, 2017 and reference lists of key articles were searched to identify studies meeting inclusion criteria. RESULTS Sixteen studies met the inclusion criteria. Sports assessed (professional or nonprofessional) included soccer (n = 5), American football (n = 2), basketball (n = 1), cycling (n = 1), marathon or triathlon (n = 1), skating (n = 1), and general sports not specified (n = 11). Soccer and American football were considered sports involving repetitive concussive head and cervical spinal trauma. Professional sports prone to repetitive concussive head and cervical spinal trauma were associated with substantially greater effects (pooled rate ratio [RR] 8.52, 95% CI 5.18-14.0) compared with (a) nonprofessional sports prone to repetitive concussive head and cervical spinal trauma (pooled RR 0.60, 95% CI 0.12-3.06); (b) professional sports not prone to repetitive head and neck trauma (pooled RR 1.35, 95% CI 0.67-2.71); or (c) nonprofessional sports not prone to repetitive concussive head and cervical spinal trauma (pooled RR 1.17, 95% CI 0.79-1.71). CONCLUSIONS Our review suggests that increased susceptibility to ALS is significantly and independently associated with 2 factors: professional sports and sports prone to repetitive concussive head and cervical spinal trauma. Their combination resulted in an additive effect, further increasing this association to ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ronen Blecher
- Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA,Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Israel
| | | | - Emre Yilmaz
- Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Akil Patel
- Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Mike Hutton
- Princess Elizabeth Orthopaedic Centre, Exeter, UK
| | | | - Robert Dunn
- University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | | | - Jens R. Chapman
- Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Seattle, WA, USA,Jens R. Chapman, Swedish Neuroscience Institute, Swedish Medical Center, 550 17th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122, USA.
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Dickerson AS, Hansen J, Specht AJ, Gredal O, Weisskopf MG. Population-based study of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and occupational lead exposure in Denmark. Occup Environ Med 2019; 76:208-214. [PMID: 30705111 DOI: 10.1136/oemed-2018-105469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2018] [Revised: 11/16/2018] [Accepted: 11/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Previous research has indicated links between lead (Pb) exposure and increased risk of neurodegenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this study, we evaluated the association between occupational Pb exposures and ALS. METHODS ALS cases were ascertained through the Danish National Patient Registry from 1982 to 2013 and age and sex-matched to 100 controls. Using complete employment history since 1964 from the Danish Pension Fund, cumulative Pb exposure was estimated for each subject via a Danish job exposure matrix. Associations were evaluated using conditional logistic regression analyses and stratified by sex. RESULTS For men with >50% probability of exposure, there was an increase in odds of ALS for exposures in the 60th percentile or higher during any time 5 years prior to diagnosis (aOR: 1.35; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.76) and 10 years prior to diagnosis (aOR: 1.33; 95% CI 1.03 to 1.72). No significant associations were observed in women, and there were no linear trends seen for Pb exposures for either sex. CONCLUSIONS Our study indicates an association between consistently higher occupational Pb exposures and ALS. These findings support those of previously reported associations between ALS and specific occupations that commonly experience Pb exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha S Dickerson
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Johnni Hansen
- Occupation Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Aaron J Specht
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ole Gredal
- Occupation Research Unit, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marc G Weisskopf
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Mortality by cause of death and risk behaviors in farmers versus non-farmers: the importance of avoiding the healthy worker effect. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2019; 92:599-608. [DOI: 10.1007/s00420-018-1396-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Ash PEA, Dhawan U, Boudeau S, Lei S, Carlomagno Y, Knobel M, Al Mohanna LFA, Boomhower SR, Newland MC, Sherr DH, Wolozin B. Heavy Metal Neurotoxicants Induce ALS-Linked TDP-43 Pathology. Toxicol Sci 2019; 167:105-115. [PMID: 30371865 PMCID: PMC6317426 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Heavy metals, such as lead, mercury, and selenium, have been epidemiologically linked with a risk of ALS, but a molecular mechanism proving the connection has not been shown. A screen of putative developmental neurotoxins demonstrated that heavy metals (lead, mercury, and tin) trigger accumulation of TDP-43 into nuclear granules with concomitant loss of diffuse nuclear TDP-43. Lead (Pb) and methyl mercury (MeHg) disrupt the homeostasis of TDP-43 in neurons, resulting in increased levels of transcript and increased splicing activity of TDP-43. TDP-43 homeostasis is tightly regulated, and positively or negatively altering its splicing-suppressive activity has been shown to be deleterious to neurons. These changes are associated with the liquid-liquid phase separation of TDP-43 into nuclear bodies. We show that lead directly facilitates phase separation of TDP-43 in a dose-dependent manner in vitro, possibly explaining the means by which lead treatment results in neuronal nuclear granules. Metal toxicants also triggered the accumulation of insoluble TDP-43 in cultured cells and in the cortices of exposed mice. These results provide novel evidence of a direct mechanistic link between heavy metals, which are a commonly cited environmental risk of ALS, and molecular changes in TDP-43, the primary pathological protein accumulating in ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E A Ash
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Uma Dhawan
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
- Department of Biomedical Science, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, Delhi 110075, India
| | - Samantha Boudeau
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Shuwen Lei
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Yari Carlomagno
- Neuroscience Division, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida 32224
| | - Mark Knobel
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Louloua F A Al Mohanna
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
| | - Steven R Boomhower
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | | | - David H Sherr
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health
| | - Benjamin Wolozin
- Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
- Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts 02118
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Freedman DM, Kuncl RW, Cahoon EK, Rivera DR, Pfeiffer RM. Relationship of statins and other cholesterol-lowering medications and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis in the US elderly. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2018; 19:538-546. [DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2018.1511731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- D. Michal Freedman
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ralph W. Kuncl
- Department of Biology, University of the Redlands, Redlands, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth K. Cahoon
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Donna R. Rivera
- Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Ruth M. Pfeiffer
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Wei QQ, Chen Y, Chen X, Cao B, Ou R, Zhang L, Hou Y, Shang H. Clinical and prognostic features of ALS/MND in different phenotypes–data from a hospital-based registry. Brain Res Bull 2018; 142:403-408. [DOI: 10.1016/j.brainresbull.2018.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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O'Reilly ÉJ, Wang M, Adami HO, Alonso A, Bernstein L, van den Brandt P, Buring J, Daugherty S, Deapen D, Freedman DM, English DR, Giles GG, Håkansson N, Kurth T, Schairer C, Weiderpass E, Wolk A, Smith-Warner SA. Prediagnostic body size and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis death in 10 studies. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2018; 19:396-406. [PMID: 29658324 PMCID: PMC6423444 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2018.1452944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES AND METHODS Using pooled multivariable-adjusted rate ratios (RR), we explored relationships between prediagnostic body-mass-index (BMI), waist-to-hip-ratio (WHR), and weight-gain during adulthood, and ALS in 419,894 women and 148,166 men from 10 community-based cohorts in USA, Europe, and Australia; 428 ALS deaths were documented in women and 204 in men. RESULTS Higher mid-to-later adulthood BMI was associated with lower ALS mortality. For 5 kg/m2 increased BMI, the rate was 15% lower (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4-24%; p = 0.005). Although a clear linear trend was not evident for WHR at enrollment (p = 0.099) individuals in the highest cohort-specific quartile had 27% (95% CI: 0-47%; p = 0.053) lower ALS compared to those in the lowest. BMI in early adulthood did not predict ALS; fewer than 10% of participants had early adulthood BMI >25 kg/m2, limiting power. Weight-gain during adulthood was strongly associated with lower ALS; for an additional 1kg gain in weight/year, the RR = 0.43 (95% CI: 0.28-0.65; p < 0.001). Associations persisted when adjusted for diabetes at enrollment, restricted to never-smokers, and ALS deaths in the 5 years after enrollment were excluded (accounting for recent weight loss). CONCLUSIONS These findings confirm somewhat conflicting, underpowered evidence that adiposity is inversely associated with ALS. We newly demonstrate that weight-gain during adulthood is strongly predictive of lower ALS risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éilis J O'Reilly
- a Department of Nutrition , Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA
- b School of Public Health, College of Medicine , University College Cork , Cork , Ireland
| | - Molin Wang
- c Channing Division of Network Medicine , Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
- d Department of Epidemiology , Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Hans-Olov Adami
- e Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Alvaro Alonso
- f Department of Epidemiology , Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University , Atlanta , GA , USA
| | - Leslie Bernstein
- g Division of Cancer Etiology, Department of Population Science , Beckman Research Institute and City of Hope National Medical Center , Duarte , CA , USA
| | - Piet van den Brandt
- h Department of Epidemiology, School for Oncology and Developmental Biology (GROW) , Maastricht University , Maastricht , The Netherlands
| | - Julie Buring
- d Department of Epidemiology , Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA
- i Division of Preventive Medicine , Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Sarah Daugherty
- j CER Methods & Infrastructure , Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute , Washington, DC , USA
| | - Dennis Deapen
- g Division of Cancer Etiology, Department of Population Science , Beckman Research Institute and City of Hope National Medical Center , Duarte , CA , USA
| | - D Michal Freedman
- k Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics , National Cancer Institute , Rockville , MD , USA
| | - Dallas R English
- l Cancer Epidemiology Centre, Cancer Council of Victoria , Melbourne , Australia
- m Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics , Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne , Melbourne , Australia
| | - Graham G Giles
- l Cancer Epidemiology Centre, Cancer Council of Victoria , Melbourne , Australia
- m Centre for Epidemiology and Biostatistics , Melbourne School of Population and Global Health, The University of Melbourne , Melbourne , Australia
| | - Niclas Håkansson
- n Division of Nutritional Epidemiology , National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Tobias Kurth
- d Department of Epidemiology , Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA
- i Division of Preventive Medicine , Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
- o Institute of Public Health , Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin , Germany
| | - Catherine Schairer
- k Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics , National Cancer Institute , Rockville , MD , USA
| | - Elisabete Weiderpass
- e Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics , Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
- p Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences , University of Tromsø, The Arctic University of Norway , Tromsø , Norway
- q Department of Research , Cancer Registry of Norway , Oslo , Norway , and
- r Genetic Epidemiology Group , Folkhälsan Research Center , Helsinki , Finland
| | - Alicja Wolk
- n Division of Nutritional Epidemiology , National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Stephanie A Smith-Warner
- a Department of Nutrition , Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA
- d Department of Epidemiology , Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA
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Dickerson AS, Hansen J, Gredal O, Weisskopf MG. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Exposure to Diesel Exhaust in a Danish Cohort. Am J Epidemiol 2018; 187:1613-1622. [PMID: 29590300 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwy069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have suggested an increased risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other motor neuron diseases for persons in occupations commonly involving exposure to diesel exhaust (DE). In this study, we investigated the association between occupational exposure to DE and odds of ALS. ALS cases were identified from the Danish National Patient Registry (1982-2013) and individually matched to 100 controls per case on the basis of birth year and sex. Using information on occupational history from 1964 onward obtained from the Danish Pension Fund, we estimated cumulative DE exposures using a job exposure matrix. We evaluated associations using conditional logistic regression analyses and stratified the analyses by sex. Using a 10-year lag period, DE exposure was positively associated with ALS among men who had ever been exposed (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.20, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05, 1.38). For men with greater than 50% probability of DE exposure, we observed a positive association between ALS and highest-quartile exposure during the 5-year (aOR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.70) and 10-year (aOR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.11, 1.79) lag periods. Our study suggests an association between consistently higher exposures to DE and ALS in men, but not in women. These findings support previous reports of associations between ALS and occupations commonly involving DE exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aisha S Dickerson
- Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Johnni Hansen
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ole Gredal
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Marc G Weisskopf
- Departments of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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Armon C. From Snow to Hill to ALS: An epidemiological odyssey in search of ALS causation. J Neurol Sci 2018; 391:134-140. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2018.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 04/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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O'Reilly ÉJ, Bjornevik K, Schwarzschild MA, McCullough ML, Kolonel LN, Le Marchand L, Manson JE, Ascherio A. Pre-diagnostic plasma urate and the risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Amyotroph Lateral Scler Frontotemporal Degener 2017; 19:194-200. [PMID: 29277115 DOI: 10.1080/21678421.2017.1418005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To prospectively examine for the first time the association between plasma urate levels measured in healthy participants and future amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) risk. METHODS A pooled case-control study nested in five US prospective cohorts comprising 319,617 participants who provided blood, of which 275 had ALS during follow-up. Pre-diagnostic plasma urate was determined for all participants using a clinical colorimetric enzyme assay. Gender-specific multivariable-adjusted rate ratios (RR) of ALS incidence or death estimated by conditional logistic regression and pooled using inverse-variance weighting. RESULTS In age- and matching factor-adjusted analyses, a 1 mg/dL increase in urate concentration was associated with RR = 0.88 (95% CI: [0.78, 0.997] p = 0.044). After adjustment for BMI, a strong predictor of ALS and urate levels, and other potential covariates, the RR = 0.89 (95% CI: [0.78, 1.02]; p = 0.08 for 1mg/dL increase in urate). CONCLUSION Elevation of plasma urate was modestly inversely associated with the risk of ALS and warrants further study for a potential role in this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Éilis J O'Reilly
- a School of Public Health , College of Medicine, University College Cork , Cork , Ireland.,b Department of Nutrition , Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA
| | - Kjetil Bjornevik
- c Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care , University of Bergen , Bergen , Norway.,d The Norwegian Multiple Sclerosis Competence Center, Department of Neurology , Haukeland University Hospital , Bergen , Norway
| | | | | | - Laurence N Kolonel
- g Epidemiology Program , University of Hawaii Cancer Center , Honolulu , HI , USA
| | - Loic Le Marchand
- g Epidemiology Program , University of Hawaii Cancer Center , Honolulu , HI , USA
| | - Joann E Manson
- h Department of Medicine Brigham and Women's Hospital , Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA.,i Department of Epidemiology , Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA , and
| | - Alberto Ascherio
- b Department of Nutrition , Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA.,i Department of Epidemiology , Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health , Boston , MA , USA , and.,j Channing Division of Network Medicine , Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School , Boston , MA , USA
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Wallin C, Sholts SB, Österlund N, Luo J, Jarvet J, Roos PM, Ilag L, Gräslund A, Wärmländer SKTS. Alzheimer's disease and cigarette smoke components: effects of nicotine, PAHs, and Cd(II), Cr(III), Pb(II), Pb(IV) ions on amyloid-β peptide aggregation. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14423. [PMID: 29089568 PMCID: PMC5663743 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-13759-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 09/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cigarette smoking is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD), which is associated with extracellular brain deposits of amyloid plaques containing aggregated amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides. Aβ aggregation occurs via multiple pathways that can be influenced by various compounds. Here, we used AFM imaging and NMR, fluorescence, and mass spectrometry to monitor in vitro how Aβ aggregation is affected by the cigarette-related compounds nicotine, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with one to five aromatic rings, and the metal ions Cd(II), Cr(III), Pb(II), and Pb(IV). All PAHs and metal ions modulated the Aβ aggregation process. Cd(II), Cr(III), and Pb(II) ions displayed general electrostatic interactions with Aβ, whereas Pb(IV) ions showed specific transient binding coordination to the N-terminal Aβ segment. Thus, Pb(IV) ions are especially prone to interact with Aβ and affect its aggregation. While Pb(IV) ions affected mainly Aβ dimer and trimer formation, hydrophobic toluene mainly affected formation of larger aggregates such as tetramers. The uncharged and hydrophilic nicotine molecule showed no direct interactions with Aβ, nor did it affect Aβ aggregation. Our Aβ interaction results suggest a molecular rationale for the higher AD prevalence among smokers, and indicate that certain forms of lead in particular may constitute an environmental risk factor for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Wallin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sabrina B Sholts
- Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Nicklas Österlund
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jinghui Luo
- Chemical Research Laboratory, University of Oxford, 12 Mansfield Road, Oxford Ox, 1 3TA, UK
| | - Jüri Jarvet
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
- The National Institute of Chemical Physics and Biophysics, Tallinn, Estonia
| | - Per M Roos
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Nobels väg 13, 171 77, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Physiology, Capio St.Göran Hospital, St.Göransplan 1, 112 19, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Leopold Ilag
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Astrid Gräslund
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sebastian K T S Wärmländer
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Arrhenius Laboratories, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden.
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45
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert H Brown
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (R.H.B.); and the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London (A.A.-C.)
| | - Ammar Al-Chalabi
- From the Department of Neurology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester (R.H.B.); and the Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King's College London, London (A.A.-C.)
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Wang MD, Little J, Gomes J, Cashman NR, Krewski D. Identification of risk factors associated with onset and progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis using systematic review and meta-analysis. Neurotoxicology 2017; 61:101-130. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2016.06.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 06/29/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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Abstract
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterised by a rapid loss of lower and upper motor neurons. As a complex disease, the ageing process and complicated gene-environment interactions are involved in the majority of cases. Main body Significant advances have been made in unravelling the genetic susceptibility to ALS with massively parallel sequencing technologies, while environmental insults remain a suspected but largely unexplored source of risk. Several studies applying the strategy of Mendelian randomisation have strengthened the link between environmental insults and ALS, but none so far has proved conclusive. We propose a new ALS model which links the current knowledge of genetic factors, ageing and environmental insults. This model provides a mechanism as to how ALS is initiated, with environmental insults playing a critical role. Conclusion The available evidence has suggested that inherited defect(s) could cause mitochondrial dysfunction, which would establish the primary susceptibility to ALS. Further study of the underlying mechanism may shed light on ALS pathogenesis. Environmental insults are a critical trigger for ALS, particularly in the aged individuals with other toxicant susceptible genes. The identification of ALS triggers could lead to preventive strategies for those individuals at risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Yu
- Sydney Medical School (Central), The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006 Australia.,Department of Medical Genomics, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and NSW Health Pathology, Camperdown, NSW 2050 Australia
| | - Roger Pamphlett
- Discipline of Pathology, Brain and Mind Centre, The University of Sydney, 94 Mallett St, Camperdown, NSW 2050 Australia.,Department of Neuropathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW 2050 Australia
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48
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Occupational formaldehyde and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Eur J Epidemiol 2017; 32:893-899. [PMID: 28585120 DOI: 10.1007/s10654-017-0249-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Prior studies have yielded inconsistent evidence regarding the association between formaldehyde exposure and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). We conducted a population case-control study in the Danish National Registries on the relationship between occupationally-derived formaldehyde exposure and ALS. Occupational history was obtained from a comprehensive and prospectively recorded pension database of all paid work in Denmark since 1964, and was linked to a job-exposure matrix to derive individual exposure estimates. Each case was matched to 4 age- and sex-matched population controls alive on the date of the case diagnosis via risk set sampling, and odds ratios and confidence intervals (CI) were calculated via conditional logistic regression, adjusting for potential confounders. There were 3650 incident cases of ALS in the Danish National Patient Register from 1982 to 2009. Among controls, 25% were ever employed in jobs with a positive prevalence of formaldehyde exposure. Exposure to formaldehyde was associated with a 1.3-fold increased rate of ALS (95% CI 1.2-1.4). This study suggests that formaldehyde exposure, or employment in formaldehyde-exposed occupations, is related to the risk of ALS.
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49
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Ash PEA, Stanford EA, Al Abdulatif A, Ramirez-Cardenas A, Ballance HI, Boudeau S, Jeh A, Murithi JM, Tripodis Y, Murphy GJ, Sherr DH, Wolozin B. Dioxins and related environmental contaminants increase TDP-43 levels. Mol Neurodegener 2017; 12:35. [PMID: 28476168 PMCID: PMC5420162 DOI: 10.1186/s13024-017-0177-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a debilitating neurodegenerative condition that is characterized by progressive loss of motor neurons and the accumulation of aggregated TAR DNA Binding Protein-43 (TDP-43, gene: TARDBP). Increasing evidence indicates that environmental factors contribute to the risk of ALS. Dioxins, related planar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are environmental contaminants that activate the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a ligand-activated, PAS family transcription factor. Recently, exposure to these toxicants was identified as a risk factor for ALS. Methods We examined levels of TDP-43 reporter activity, transcript and protein. Quantification was done using cell lines, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and mouse brain. The target samples were treated with AHR agonists, including 6-Formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ, a potential endogenous ligand, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo(p)dioxin, and benzo(a)pyrene, an abundant carcinogen in cigarette smoke). The action of the agonists was inhibited by concomitant addition of AHR antagonists or by AHR-specific shRNA. Results We now report that AHR agonists induce up to a 3-fold increase in TDP-43 protein in human neuronal cell lines (BE-M17 cells), motor neuron differentiated iPSCs, and in murine brain. Chronic treatment with AHR agonists elicits over 2-fold accumulation of soluble and insoluble TDP-43, primarily because of reduced TDP-43 catabolism. AHR antagonists or AHR knockdown inhibits agonist-induced increases in TDP-43 protein and TARDBP transcription demonstrating that the ligands act through the AHR. Conclusions These results provide the first evidence that environmental AHR ligands increase TDP-43, which is the principle pathological protein associated with ALS. These results suggest novel molecular mechanisms through which a variety of prevalent environmental factors might directly contribute to ALS. The widespread distribution of dioxins, PCBs and PAHs is considered to be a risk factor for cancer and autoimmune diseases, but could also be a significant public health concern for ALS. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13024-017-0177-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E A Ash
- Department of Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St., R614, Boston, MA, 02118-2526, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Stanford
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Ali Al Abdulatif
- Department of Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St., R614, Boston, MA, 02118-2526, USA
| | | | - Heather I Ballance
- Department of Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St., R614, Boston, MA, 02118-2526, USA
| | - Samantha Boudeau
- Department of Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St., R614, Boston, MA, 02118-2526, USA
| | - Amanda Jeh
- Department of Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St., R614, Boston, MA, 02118-2526, USA
| | - James M Murithi
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Yorghos Tripodis
- Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - George J Murphy
- Center for Regenerative Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - David H Sherr
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Benjamin Wolozin
- Department of Pharmacology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St., R614, Boston, MA, 02118-2526, USA. .,Department of Neurology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St., R614, Boston, MA, 02118-2526, USA.
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50
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Luna J, Logroscino G, Couratier P, Marin B. Current issues in ALS epidemiology: Variation of ALS occurrence between populations and physical activity as a risk factor. Rev Neurol (Paris) 2017; 173:244-253. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurol.2017.03.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2017] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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