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Verberk IMW, Jutte J, Kingma MY, Vigneswaran S, Gouda MMTEE, van Engelen MP, Alcolea D, Arranz J, Fortea J, Lleó A, Chevalier C, Marizzoni M, van de Giessen EM, Lemstra AW, Pijnenburg YAL, van der Flier WM, den Braber A, Wilson D, Schut MC, van Harten AC, Teunissen CE. Development of thresholds and a visualization tool for use of a blood test in routine clinical dementia practice. Alzheimers Dement 2024. [PMID: 39096164 DOI: 10.1002/alz.14088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 08/05/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We developed a multimarker blood test result interpretation tool for the clinical dementia practice, including phosphorylated (P-)tau181, amyloid-beta (Abeta)42/40, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light (NfL). METHODS We measured the plasma biomarkers with Simoa (n = 1199), applied LASSO regression for biomarker selection and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analyses to determine diagnostic accuracy. We validated our findings in two independent cohorts and constructed a visualization approach. RESULTS P-tau181, GFAP, and NfL were selected. This combination had area under the curve (AUC) = 83% to identify amyloid positivity in pre-dementia stages, AUC = 87%-89% to differentiate Alzheimer's or controls from frontotemporal dementia, AUC = 74%-76% to differentiate Alzheimer's or controls from dementia with Lewy bodies. Highly reproducible AUCs were obtained in independent cohorts. The resulting visualization tool includes UpSet plots to visualize the stand-alone biomarker results and density plots to visualize the biomarker results combined. DISCUSSION Our multimarker blood test interpretation tool is ready for testing in real-world clinical dementia settings. HIGHLIGHTS We developed a multimarker blood test interpretation tool for clinical dementia practice. Our interpretation tool includes plasma biomarkers P-tau, GFAP, and NfL. Our tool is particularly useful for Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inge M W Verberk
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jolien Jutte
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Translational Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maurice Y Kingma
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Translational Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Sinthujah Vigneswaran
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Mariam M T E E Gouda
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marie-Paule van Engelen
- Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel Alcolea
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau - Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Javier Arranz
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau - Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Fortea
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau - Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Alberto Lleó
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau - Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau (IIB Sant Pau), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claire Chevalier
- Memory Centre, Division of Geriatrics and Rehabilitation, University Hospitals of Geneva and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Moira Marizzoni
- Laboratory of Biological Psychiatry, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Elsmarieke M van de Giessen
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Afina W Lemstra
- Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yolande A L Pijnenburg
- Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wiesje M van der Flier
- Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Public Health, Methodology & Digital Health, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Anouk den Braber
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Biological Psychology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - David Wilson
- Quanterix corporation, Billerica, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Martijn C Schut
- Translational Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Argonde C van Harten
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Alzheimer Center, Department of Neurology, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Charlotte E Teunissen
- Neurochemistry Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Neuroscience, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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2
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Chatterjee M, Özdemir S, Fritz C, Möbius W, Kleineidam L, Mandelkow E, Biernat J, Doğdu C, Peters O, Cosma NC, Wang X, Schneider LS, Priller J, Spruth E, Kühn AA, Krause P, Klockgether T, Vogt IR, Kimmich O, Spottke A, Hoffmann DC, Fliessbach K, Miklitz C, McCormick C, Weydt P, Falkenburger B, Brandt M, Guenther R, Dinter E, Wiltfang J, Hansen N, Bähr M, Zerr I, Flöel A, Nestor PJ, Düzel E, Glanz W, Incesoy E, Bürger K, Janowitz D, Perneczky R, Rauchmann BS, Hopfner F, Wagemann O, Levin J, Teipel S, Kilimann I, Goerss D, Prudlo J, Gasser T, Brockmann K, Mengel D, Zimmermann M, Synofzik M, Wilke C, Selma-González J, Turon-Sans J, Santos-Santos MA, Alcolea D, Rubio-Guerra S, Fortea J, Carbayo Á, Lleó A, Rojas-García R, Illán-Gala I, Wagner M, Frommann I, Roeske S, Bertram L, Heneka MT, Brosseron F, Ramirez A, Schmid M, Beschorner R, Halle A, Herms J, Neumann M, Barthélemy NR, Bateman RJ, Rizzu P, Heutink P, Dols-Icardo O, Höglinger G, Hermann A, Schneider A. Plasma extracellular vesicle tau and TDP-43 as diagnostic biomarkers in FTD and ALS. Nat Med 2024; 30:1771-1783. [PMID: 38890531 PMCID: PMC11186765 DOI: 10.1038/s41591-024-02937-4] [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: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Minimally invasive biomarkers are urgently needed to detect molecular pathology in frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here, we show that plasma extracellular vesicles (EVs) contain quantifiable amounts of TDP-43 and full-length tau, which allow the quantification of 3-repeat (3R) and 4-repeat (4R) tau isoforms. Plasma EV TDP-43 levels and EV 3R/4R tau ratios were determined in a cohort of 704 patients, including 37 genetically and 31 neuropathologically proven cases. Diagnostic groups comprised patients with TDP-43 proteinopathy ALS, 4R tauopathy progressive supranuclear palsy, behavior variant FTD (bvFTD) as a group with either tau or TDP-43 pathology, and healthy controls. EV tau ratios were low in progressive supranuclear palsy and high in bvFTD with tau pathology. EV TDP-43 levels were high in ALS and in bvFTD with TDP-43 pathology. Both markers discriminated between the diagnostic groups with area under the curve values >0.9, and between TDP-43 and tau pathology in bvFTD. Both markers strongly correlated with neurodegeneration, and clinical and neuropsychological markers of disease severity. Findings were replicated in an independent validation cohort of 292 patients including 34 genetically confirmed cases. Taken together, the combination of EV TDP-43 levels and EV 3R/4R tau ratios may aid the molecular diagnosis of FTD, FTD spectrum disorders and ALS, providing a potential biomarker to monitor disease progression and target engagement in clinical trials.
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Grants
- R01 AG080470 NIA NIH HHS
- This study was funded by a grant from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, BMBF, grant identifier 01KX2230 to AS. AS received funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, BMBF (DESCARTES consortium, grant identifier 01EK2102A, and PREPARE, grant identifier 01GP2213A), Verum Foundation and BMBF/NUM (UTN consortium). A.S. received funding from Cure Alzheimer’s Fund and from Netzwerke NRW iBehave consortium. A.S. is member of the DFG-funded Cluster of Excellence ImmunoSensation2 - EXC2151 – 390873048. A.S. and A.R. were supported by La Fundación Reina Sofía, proyecto “MANOLO BARRÓS”. A.S. received funding by the Target ALS Foundation (TALS).
- MC received funding from Deutsche Demenzhilfe DZNE Innovative Minds Program and the Manfred-Strohscheer-Foundation.
- L.K. received funding from the Hertie Foundation, Hertie Network of Excellence in Clinical Neurosciences and from the JPND grant 01ED2007B (PreAdapt).
- Cure Alzheimer Foundation, Katharina Hard Foundation
- NRW Netzwerke iBehave
- DFG, Neuro-AcSis
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Selcuk Özdemir
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Genetics, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey
| | - Christian Fritz
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Wiebke Möbius
- Department of Neurogenetics, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence 'Multiscale Bioimaging: from Molecular Machines to Networks of Excitable Cells' (MBExC), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Luca Kleineidam
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Eckhard Mandelkow
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jacek Biernat
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Cem Doğdu
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Oliver Peters
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Xiao Wang
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Josef Priller
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Technical University of Munich School of Medicine, Munich, Germany
- University of Edinburgh and UK DRI, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Eike Spruth
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea A Kühn
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Berlin, Germany
- Movement Disorder and Neuromodulation Unit, Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Patricia Krause
- Movement Disorder and Neuromodulation Unit, Department of Neurology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Thomas Klockgether
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ina R Vogt
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Okka Kimmich
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Annika Spottke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | | | - Klaus Fliessbach
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Carolin Miklitz
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Cornelia McCormick
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Patrick Weydt
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Björn Falkenburger
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Moritz Brandt
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - René Guenther
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Dinter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Dresden, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Jens Wiltfang
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Neurosciences and Signaling Group, Institute of Biomedicine (iBiMED), Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Niels Hansen
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Medical Center Göttingen, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mathias Bähr
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
- Cluster of Excellence Nanoscale Microscopy and Molecular Physiology of the Brain (CNMPB), University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Inga Zerr
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Göttingen, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center, Georg August University, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Agnes Flöel
- Department of Neurology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
| | - Peter J Nestor
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland and Mater Public Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Emrah Düzel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London, UK
| | - Wenzel Glanz
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Clinic for Neurology, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Enise Incesoy
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Magdeburg, Germany
- Institute of Cognitive Neurology and Dementia Research, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital Magdeburg, Magdeburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Bürger
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Daniel Janowitz
- Institute for Stroke and Dementia Research, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Robert Perneczky
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy) Munich, Munich, Germany
- Ageing Epidemiology Research Unit, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Boris S Rauchmann
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Neuroradiology, University Hospital LMU, Munich, Germany
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Franziska Hopfner
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Olivia Wagemann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Levin
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy) Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Teipel
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Ingo Kilimann
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
- Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Rostock University Medical Center, Rostock, Germany
| | - Doreen Goerss
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
| | - Johannes Prudlo
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
- Department of Neurology, Rostock University Medical Centre, Rostock, Germany
| | - Thomas Gasser
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Brockmann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - David Mengel
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Milan Zimmermann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Carlo Wilke
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
- Hertie Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Judit Selma-González
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Janina Turon-Sans
- Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Santos-Santos
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel Alcolea
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sara Rubio-Guerra
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Fortea
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Álvaro Carbayo
- Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Lleó
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Rojas-García
- Motor Neuron Disease Clinic, Neuromuscular Diseases Unit, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ignacio Illán-Gala
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Michael Wagner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ingo Frommann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Sandra Roeske
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Lucas Bertram
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
| | - Michael T Heneka
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, University of Massachussetss Medical School, North Worcester, MA, USA
| | | | - Alfredo Ramirez
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
- Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Division of Neurogenetics and Molecular Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry, Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's & Neurodegenerative Diseases, UT Health San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - Matthias Schmid
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Institute for Medical Biometry, Informatics and Epidemiology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Rudi Beschorner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Annett Halle
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, University Hospital Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Jochen Herms
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy) Munich, Munich, Germany
- Center for Neuropathology and Prion Research, LMU Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Manuela Neumann
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nicolas R Barthélemy
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Tracy Family SILQ Center for Neurodegenerative Biology, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Randall J Bateman
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Tracy Family SILQ Center for Neurodegenerative Biology, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Patrizia Rizzu
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Peter Heutink
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Oriol Dols-Icardo
- Sant Pau Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain
| | - Günter Höglinger
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy) Munich, Munich, Germany
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital of Munich, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Andreas Hermann
- German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Rostock/Greifswald, Germany
- Translational Neurodegeneration Section 'Albrecht Kossel' and Center for Transdisciplinary Neurosciences, University Medical Center Rostock, Rostock, Germany
| | - Anja Schneider
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Bonn, Germany.
- Department of Old Age Psychiatry and Cognitive Disorders, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany.
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Brown C, Das S, Xie L, Nasrallah I, Detre J, Chen‐Plotkin A, Shaw L, McMillan C, Yushkevich P, Wolk D. Medial temporal lobe gray matter microstructure in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:4147-4158. [PMID: 38747539 PMCID: PMC11180947 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13832] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Typical MRI measures of neurodegeneration have limited sensitivity in early disease stages. Diffusion MRI (dMRI) microstructural measures may allow for detection in preclinical stages. METHODS Participants had dMRI and either beta-amyloid PET or plasma biomarkers of Alzheimer's pathology within 18 months of MRI. Microstructure was measured in portions of the medial temporal lobe (MTL) with high neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) burden based on a previously developed post mortem 3D-map. Regressions examined relationships between microstructure and markers of Alzheimer's pathology in preclinical disease and then across disease stages. RESULTS There was higher isometric volume fraction in amyloid-positive compared to amyloid-negative cognitively unimpaired individuals in high tangle MTL regions. Similarly, plasma biomarkers and 18F-flortaucipir were associated with microstructural changes in preclinical disease. Additional microstructural effects were seen across disease stages. DISCUSSION Combining a post mortem atlas of NFT pathology with microstructural measures allows for detection of neurodegeneration in preclinical Alzheimer's disease. Highlights Typical markers of neurodegeneration are not sensitive in preclinical Alzheimer's. dMRI measured microstructure in regions with high NFT. Microstructural changes occur in medial temporal regions in preclinical disease. Microstructural changes occur in other typical Alzheimer's regions in later stages. Combining post mortem pathology atlases with in vivo MRI is a powerful framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Brown
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Sandhitsu Das
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Long Xie
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
- Siemens HealthineersDigital Technology and InnovationPrincetonNew JerseyUSA
| | - Ilya Nasrallah
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - John Detre
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Alice Chen‐Plotkin
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Leslie Shaw
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Corey McMillan
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Paul Yushkevich
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - David Wolk
- Department of NeurologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
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Cousins KAQ, Phillips JS, Das SR, O'Brien K, Tropea TF, Chen‐Plotkin A, Shaw LM, Nasrallah IM, Mechanic‐Hamilton D, McMillan CT, Irwin DJ, Lee EB, Wolk DA. Pathologic and cognitive correlates of plasma biomarkers in neurodegenerative disease. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:3889-3905. [PMID: 38644682 PMCID: PMC11180939 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13777] [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: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We investigate pathological correlates of plasma phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau181), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and neurofilament light chain (NfL) across a clinically diverse spectrum of neurodegenerative disease, including normal cognition (NormCog) and impaired cognition (ImpCog). METHODS Participants were NormCog (n = 132) and ImpCog (n = 461), with confirmed β-amyloid (Aβ+/-) status (cerebrospinal fluid, positron emission tomography, autopsy) and single molecule array plasma measurements. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) tested how combining plasma analytes discriminated Aβ+ from Aβ-. Survival analyses tested time to clinical dementia rating (global CDR) progression. RESULTS Multivariable models (p-tau+GFAP+NfL) had the best performance to detect Aβ+ in NormCog (ROCAUC = 0.87) and ImpCog (ROCAUC = 0.87). Survival analyses demonstrated that higher NfL best predicted faster CDR progression for both Aβ+ (hazard ratio [HR] = 2.94; p = 8.1e-06) and Aβ- individuals (HR = 3.11; p = 2.6e-09). DISCUSSION Combining plasma biomarkers can optimize detection of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology across cognitively normal and clinically diverse neurodegenerative disease. HIGHLIGHTS Participants were clinically heterogeneous, with autopsy- or biomarker-confirmed Aβ. Combining plasma p-tau181, GFAP, and NfL improved diagnostic accuracy for Aβ status. Diagnosis by plasma biomarkers is more accurate in amnestic AD than nonamnestic AD. Plasma analytes show independent associations with tau PET and post mortem Aβ/tau. Plasma NfL predicted longitudinal cognitive decline in both Aβ+ and Aβ- individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katheryn A. Q. Cousins
- Department of NeurologyPerelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Jeffrey S. Phillips
- Department of NeurologyPerelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Sandhitsu R. Das
- Department of NeurologyPerelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Kyra O'Brien
- Department of NeurologyPerelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Thomas F. Tropea
- Department of NeurologyPerelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Alice Chen‐Plotkin
- Department of NeurologyPerelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Leslie M. Shaw
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Ilya M. Nasrallah
- Department of RadiologyUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Dawn Mechanic‐Hamilton
- Department of NeurologyPerelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Corey T. McMillan
- Department of NeurologyPerelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - David J. Irwin
- Department of NeurologyPerelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - Edward B. Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
| | - David A. Wolk
- Department of NeurologyPerelman School of MedicineUniversity of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvaniaUSA
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5
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Sarto J, Esteller-Gauxax D, Tort-Merino A, Guillén N, Pérez-Millan A, Falgàs N, Borrego-Écija S, Fernández-Villullas G, Bosch B, Juncà-Parella J, Antonell A, Naranjo L, Ruiz-García R, Augé JM, Sánchez-Valle R, Lladó A, Balasa M. Impact of demographics and comorbid conditions on plasma biomarkers concentrations and their diagnostic accuracy in a memory clinic cohort. J Neurol 2024; 271:1973-1984. [PMID: 38151575 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-023-12153-8] [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: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Plasma biomarkers have emerged as promising tools for identifying amyloid beta (Aβ) pathology. Before implementation in routine clinical practice, confounding factors modifying their concentration beyond neurodegenerative diseases should be identified. We studied the association of a comprehensive list of demographics, comorbidities, medication and laboratory parameters with plasma p-tau181, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) on a prospective memory clinic cohort and studied their impact on diagnostic accuracy for discriminating CSF/amyloid PET-defined Aβ status. Three hundred sixty patients (mean age 66.5 years, 55% females, 53% Aβ positive) were included. Sex, age and Aβ status-adjusted models showed that only estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, standardized β -0.115 [-0.192 to -0.035], p = 0.005) was associated with p-tau181 levels, although with a much smaller effect than Aβ status (0.685 [0.607-0.763], p < 0.001). Age, sex, body mass index (BMI), Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) and eGFR significantly modified GFAP concentration. Age, blood volume (BV) and eGFR were associated with NfL levels. p-tau181 predicted Aβ status with 87% sensitivity and specificity with no relevant increase in diagnostic performance by adding any of the confounding factors. Using two cut-offs, plasma p-tau181 could have spared 62% of amyloid-PET/CSF testing. Excluding patients with chronic kidney disease did not change the proposed cut-offs nor the diagnostic performance. In conclusion, in a memory clinic cohort, age, sex, eGFR, BMI, BV and CCI slightly modified plasma p-tau181, GFAP and NfL concentrations but their impact on the diagnostic accuracy of plasma biomarkers for Aβ status discrimination was minimal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jordi Sarto
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diana Esteller-Gauxax
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adrià Tort-Merino
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Núria Guillén
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Agnès Pérez-Millan
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Neus Falgàs
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sergi Borrego-Écija
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Guadalupe Fernández-Villullas
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Beatriz Bosch
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Juncà-Parella
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Anna Antonell
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Naranjo
- Immunology Service, Biomedical Diagnostic Center, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Ruiz-García
- Immunology Service, Biomedical Diagnostic Center, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Josep María Augé
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics Department, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raquel Sánchez-Valle
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Lladó
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mircea Balasa
- Alzheimer's Disease and Other Cognitive Disorders Unit, Neurology Service, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Fundació de Recerca Clínic - Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Villaroel 170, 08036, Barcelona, Spain.
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Fontana E, Bongianni M, Benussi A, Bronzato E, Scialo C, Sacchetto L, Cagnin A, Castriciano S, Buratti E, Gardoni F, Italia M, Schreiber A, Ferracin C, Fiorini M, Newell KL, Cracco L, Garringer HJ, Cecchini MP, Polymenidou M, Padovani A, Monaco S, Legname G, Ghetti B, Borroni B, Zanusso G. Detection of TDP-43 seeding activity in the olfactory mucosa from patients with frontotemporal dementia. Alzheimers Dement 2024; 20:1156-1165. [PMID: 37908186 PMCID: PMC10917048 DOI: 10.1002/alz.13541] [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: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION We assessed TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) seeding activity and aggregates detection in olfactory mucosa of patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration with TDP-43-immunoreactive pathology (FTLD-TDP) by TDP-43 seeding amplification assay (TDP43-SAA) and immunocytochemical analysis. METHODS The TDP43-SAA was optimized using frontal cortex samples from 16 post mortem cases with FTLD-TDP, FTLD with tau inclusions, and controls. Subsequently, olfactory mucosa samples were collected from 17 patients with FTLD-TDP, 15 healthy controls, and three patients carrying MAPT variants. RESULTS TDP43-SAA discriminated with 100% accuracy post mortem cases presenting or lacking TDP-43 neuropathology. TDP-43 seeding activity was detectable in the olfactory mucosa, and 82.4% of patients with FTLD-TDP tested positive, whereas 86.7% of controls tested negative (P < 0.001). Two out of three patients with MAPT mutations tested negative. In TDP43-SAA positive samples, cytoplasmatic deposits of phosphorylated TDP-43 in the olfactory neural cells were detected. DISCUSSION TDP-43 aggregates can be detectable in olfactory mucosa, suggesting that TDP43-SAA might be useful for identifying and monitoring FTLD-TDP in living patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Fontana
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement SciencesUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Matilde Bongianni
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement SciencesUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Alberto Benussi
- Department of Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
- Department of Continuity of Care and FrailtyASST Spedali Civili Brescia HospitalBresciaItaly
| | - Erika Bronzato
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement SciencesUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Carlo Scialo
- Department of Quantitative BiomedicineUniversity of ZurichZurichSwitzerland
| | - Luca Sacchetto
- Department of SurgeryDentistryPaediatrics and GynaecologyOtolaryngology SectionUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Annachiara Cagnin
- Neurology UnitDepartment of NeuroscienceUniversity of PadovaPaduaItaly
- Padova Neuroscience Center (PNC)University of PadovaPaduaItaly
| | | | - Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB)TriesteItaly
| | - Fabrizio Gardoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB) “Rodolfo Paoletti,”University of MilanMilanItaly
| | - Maria Italia
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences (DiSFeB) “Rodolfo Paoletti,”University of MilanMilanItaly
| | - Alberto Schreiber
- Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Head and Neck SurgeryASST Spedali CiviliUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
| | - Chiara Ferracin
- Laboratory of Prion BiologyDepartment of NeuroscienceScuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA)TriesteItaly
| | - Michele Fiorini
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement SciencesUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Kathy L. Newell
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineSchool of MedicineIndiana UniversityIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Laura Cracco
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineSchool of MedicineIndiana UniversityIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Holly J. Garringer
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineSchool of MedicineIndiana UniversityIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Maria Paola Cecchini
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement SciencesUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | | | - Alessandro Padovani
- Department of Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
- Department of Continuity of Care and FrailtyASST Spedali Civili Brescia HospitalBresciaItaly
| | - Salvatore Monaco
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement SciencesUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
| | - Giuseppe Legname
- Laboratory of Prion BiologyDepartment of NeuroscienceScuola Internazionale Superiore Di Studi Avanzati (SISSA)TriesteItaly
| | - Bernardino Ghetti
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineSchool of MedicineIndiana UniversityIndianapolisIndianaUSA
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Department of Clinical and Experimental SciencesUniversity of BresciaBresciaItaly
- Department of Continuity of Care and FrailtyASST Spedali Civili Brescia HospitalBresciaItaly
| | - Gianluigi Zanusso
- Department of Neuroscience, Biomedicine and Movement SciencesUniversity of VeronaVeronaItaly
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Cummings JL, Gonzalez MI, Pritchard MC, May PC, Toledo-Sherman LM, Harris GA. The therapeutic landscape of tauopathies: challenges and prospects. Alzheimers Res Ther 2023; 15:168. [PMID: 37803386 PMCID: PMC10557207 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-023-01321-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Tauopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders characterized by the aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau. Aggregates of misfolded tau protein are believed to be implicated in neuronal death, which leads to a range of symptoms including cognitive decline, behavioral change, dementia, and motor deficits. Currently, there are no effective treatments for tauopathies. There are four clinical candidates in phase III trials and 16 in phase II trials. While no effective treatments are currently approved, there is increasing evidence to suggest that various therapeutic approaches may slow the progression of tauopathies or improve symptoms. This review outlines the landscape of therapeutic drugs (indexed through February 28, 2023) that target tau pathology and describes drug candidates in clinical development as well as those in the discovery and preclinical phases. The review also contains information on notable therapeutic programs that are inactive or that have been discontinued from development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey L Cummings
- Chambers-Grundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), Henderson, NV, USA
| | | | | | - Patrick C May
- ADvantage Neuroscience Consulting LLC, Fort Wayne, IN, USA
| | | | - Glenn A Harris
- Rainwater Charitable Foundation, 777 Main Street, Suite 2250, Fort Worth, TX, 76102, USA.
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8
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Grossman M, Seeley WW, Boxer AL, Hillis AE, Knopman DS, Ljubenov PA, Miller B, Piguet O, Rademakers R, Whitwell JL, Zetterberg H, van Swieten JC. Frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Nat Rev Dis Primers 2023; 9:40. [PMID: 37563165 DOI: 10.1038/s41572-023-00447-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is one of the most common causes of early-onset dementia and presents with early social-emotional-behavioural and/or language changes that can be accompanied by a pyramidal or extrapyramidal motor disorder. About 20-25% of individuals with FTLD are estimated to carry a mutation associated with a specific FTLD pathology. The discovery of these mutations has led to important advances in potentially disease-modifying treatments that aim to slow progression or delay disease onset and has improved understanding of brain functioning. In both mutation carriers and those with sporadic disease, the most common underlying diagnoses are linked to neuronal and glial inclusions containing tau (FTLD-tau) or TDP-43 (FTLD-TDP), although 5-10% of patients may have inclusions containing proteins from the FUS-Ewing sarcoma-TAF15 family (FTLD-FET). Biomarkers definitively identifying specific pathological entities in sporadic disease have been elusive, which has impeded development of disease-modifying treatments. Nevertheless, disease-monitoring biofluid and imaging biomarkers are becoming increasingly sophisticated and are likely to serve as useful measures of treatment response during trials of disease-modifying treatments. Symptomatic trials using novel approaches such as transcranial direct current stimulation are also beginning to show promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray Grossman
- Department of Neurology and Penn Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - William W Seeley
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Adam L Boxer
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Argye E Hillis
- Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | | | - Peter A Ljubenov
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Bruce Miller
- Departments of Neurology and Memory and Aging Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Olivier Piguet
- School of Psychology and Brain and Mind Center, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Rosa Rademakers
- VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Henrik Zetterberg
- Department of Psychiatry and Neurochemistry, Institute of Neuroscience and Physiology, The University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden
- Clinical Neurochemistry Laboratory, Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Mölndal, Sweden
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, London, UK
- Hong Kong Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong, China
- Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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9
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Sirkis DW, Warly Solsberg C, Johnson TP, Bonham LW, Sturm VE, Lee SE, Rankin KP, Rosen HJ, Boxer AL, Seeley WW, Miller BL, Geier EG, Yokoyama JS. Single-cell RNA-seq reveals alterations in peripheral CX3CR1 and nonclassical monocytes in familial tauopathy. Genome Med 2023; 15:53. [PMID: 37464408 PMCID: PMC10354988 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-023-01205-3] [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: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Emerging evidence from mouse models is beginning to elucidate the brain's immune response to tau pathology, but little is known about the nature of this response in humans. In addition, it remains unclear to what extent tau pathology and the local inflammatory response within the brain influence the broader immune system. METHODS To address these questions, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from carriers of pathogenic variants in MAPT, the gene encoding tau (n = 8), and healthy non-carrier controls (n = 8). Primary findings from our scRNA-seq analyses were confirmed and extended via flow cytometry, droplet digital (dd)PCR, and secondary analyses of publicly available transcriptomics datasets. RESULTS Analysis of ~ 181,000 individual PBMC transcriptomes demonstrated striking differential expression in monocytes and natural killer (NK) cells in MAPT pathogenic variant carriers. In particular, we observed a marked reduction in the expression of CX3CR1-the gene encoding the fractalkine receptor that is known to modulate tau pathology in mouse models-in monocytes and NK cells. We also observed a significant reduction in the abundance of nonclassical monocytes and dysregulated expression of nonclassical monocyte marker genes, including FCGR3A. Finally, we identified reductions in TMEM176A and TMEM176B, genes thought to be involved in the inflammatory response in human microglia but with unclear function in peripheral monocytes. We confirmed the reduction in nonclassical monocytes by flow cytometry and the differential expression of select biologically relevant genes dysregulated in our scRNA-seq data using ddPCR. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that human peripheral immune cell expression and abundance are modulated by tau-associated pathophysiologic changes. CX3CR1 and nonclassical monocytes in particular will be a focus of future work exploring the role of these peripheral signals in additional tau-associated neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Sirkis
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1651 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Caroline Warly Solsberg
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1651 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Taylor P Johnson
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1651 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Luke W Bonham
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1651 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Virginia E Sturm
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1651 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Suzee E Lee
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1651 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Katherine P Rankin
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1651 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Howard J Rosen
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1651 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Adam L Boxer
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1651 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - William W Seeley
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1651 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
| | - Bruce L Miller
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1651 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ethan G Geier
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1651 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA
- Transposon Therapeutics, Inc, San Diego, CA, 92122, USA
| | - Jennifer S Yokoyama
- Memory and Aging Center, Department of Neurology, Weill Institute for Neurosciences, University of California, San Francisco, 1651 4th Street, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacogenomics Graduate Program, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- Global Brain Health Institute, University of California, San Francisco, CA, 94158, USA.
- Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
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10
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De Marchi F, Franjkic T, Schito P, Russo T, Nimac J, Chami AA, Mele A, Vidatic L, Kriz J, Julien JP, Apic G, Russell RB, Rogelj B, Cannon JR, Baralle M, Agosta F, Hecimovic S, Mazzini L, Buratti E, Munitic I. Emerging Trends in the Field of Inflammation and Proteinopathy in ALS/FTD Spectrum Disorder. Biomedicines 2023; 11:1599. [PMID: 37371694 PMCID: PMC10295684 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11061599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 05/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteinopathy and neuroinflammation are two main hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases. They also represent rare common events in an exceptionally broad landscape of genetic, environmental, neuropathologic, and clinical heterogeneity present in patients. Here, we aim to recount the emerging trends in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal degeneration (FTD) spectrum disorder. Our review will predominantly focus on neuroinflammation and systemic immune imbalance in ALS and FTD, which have recently been highlighted as novel therapeutic targets. A common mechanism of most ALS and ~50% of FTD patients is dysregulation of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43), an RNA/DNA-binding protein, which becomes depleted from the nucleus and forms cytoplasmic aggregates in neurons and glia. This, in turn, via both gain and loss of function events, alters a variety of TDP-43-mediated cellular events. Experimental attempts to target TDP-43 aggregates or manipulate crosstalk in the context of inflammation will be discussed. Targeting inflammation, and the immune system in general, is of particular interest because of the high plasticity of immune cells compared to neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola De Marchi
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Toni Franjkic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
- Metisox, Cambridge CB24 9NL, UK;
| | - Paride Schito
- Department of Neurology & Neuropathology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (P.S.); (T.R.)
| | - Tommaso Russo
- Department of Neurology & Neuropathology Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology (INSPE), Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (P.S.); (T.R.)
| | - Jerneja Nimac
- Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (J.N.); (B.R.)
- Graduate School of Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Anna A. Chami
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Angelica Mele
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Lea Vidatic
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.V.); (S.H.)
| | - Jasna Kriz
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | - Jean-Pierre Julien
- CERVO Research Centre, Laval University, Quebec City, QC G1J 2G3, Canada; (A.A.C.); (J.K.); (J.-P.J.)
| | | | | | - Boris Rogelj
- Department of Biotechnology, Jozef Stefan Institute, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (J.N.); (B.R.)
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Jason R. Cannon
- School of Health Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA;
- Purdue Institute for Integrative Neuroscience, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
| | | | - Federica Agosta
- Neuroimaging Research Unit, Institute of Experimental Neurology, Division of Neuroscience, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy;
| | - Silva Hecimovic
- Laboratory for Neurodegenerative Disease Research, Division of Molecular Medicine, Ruder Boskovic Institute, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia; (L.V.); (S.H.)
| | - Letizia Mazzini
- Department of Neurology and ALS Centre, University of Piemonte Orientale, Maggiore Della Carità Hospital, Corso Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy; (F.D.M.); (A.M.)
| | - Emanuele Buratti
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano 99, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Ivana Munitic
- Laboratory for Molecular Immunology, Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, R. Matejcic 2, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
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11
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Valori CF, Sulmona C, Brambilla L, Rossi D. Astrocytes: Dissecting Their Diverse Roles in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Frontotemporal Dementia. Cells 2023; 12:1450. [PMID: 37296571 PMCID: PMC10252425 DOI: 10.3390/cells12111450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) are fatal neurodegenerative disorders often co-occurring in the same patient, a feature that suggests a common origin of the two diseases. Consistently, pathological inclusions of the same proteins as well as mutations in the same genes can be identified in both ALS/FTD. Although many studies have described several disrupted pathways within neurons, glial cells are also regarded as crucial pathogenetic contributors in ALS/FTD. Here, we focus our attention on astrocytes, a heterogenous population of glial cells that perform several functions for optimal central nervous system homeostasis. Firstly, we discuss how post-mortem material from ALS/FTD patients supports astrocyte dysfunction around three pillars: neuroinflammation, abnormal protein aggregation, and atrophy/degeneration. Furthermore, we summarize current attempts at monitoring astrocyte functions in living patients using either novel imaging strategies or soluble biomarkers. We then address how astrocyte pathology is recapitulated in animal and cellular models of ALS/FTD and how we used these models both to understand the molecular mechanisms driving glial dysfunction and as platforms for pre-clinical testing of therapeutics. Finally, we present the current clinical trials for ALS/FTD, restricting our discussion to treatments that modulate astrocyte functions, directly or indirectly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara F. Valori
- Molecular Neuropathology of Neurodegenerative Diseases, German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 72072 Tübingen, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, University of Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Claudia Sulmona
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Liliana Brambilla
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy
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12
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Cousins KAQ, Irwin DJ, Chen-Plotkin A, Shaw LM, Arezoumandan S, Lee EB, Wolk DA, Weintraub D, Spindler M, Deik A, Grossman M, Tropea TF. Plasma GFAP associates with secondary Alzheimer's pathology in Lewy body disease. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2023; 10:802-813. [PMID: 37000892 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.51768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Within Lewy body spectrum disorders (LBSD) with α-synuclein pathology (αSyn), concomitant Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology is common and is predictive of clinical outcomes, including cognitive impairment and decline. Plasma phosphorylated tau 181 (p-tau181 ) is sensitive to AD neuropathologic change (ADNC) in clinical AD, and plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is associated with the presence of β-amyloid plaques. While these plasma biomarkers are well tested in clinical and pathological AD, their diagnostic and prognostic performance for concomitant AD in LBSD is unknown. METHODS In autopsy-confirmed αSyn-positive LBSD, we tested how plasma p-tau181 and GFAP differed across αSyn with concomitant ADNC (αSyn+AD; n = 19) and αSyn without AD (αSyn; n = 30). Severity of burden was scored on a semiquantitative scale for several pathologies (e.g., β-amyloid and tau), and scores were averaged across sampled brainstem, limbic, and neocortical regions. RESULTS Linear models showed that plasma GFAP was significantly higher in αSyn+AD compared to αSyn (β = 0.31, 95% CI = 0.065-0.56, and P = 0.015), after covarying for age at plasma, plasma-to-death interval, and sex; plasma p-tau181 was not (P = 0.37). Next, linear models tested associations of AD pathological features with both plasma analytes, covarying for plasma-to-death, age at plasma, and sex. GFAP was significantly associated with brain β-amyloid (β = 15, 95% CI = 6.1-25, and P = 0.0018) and tau burden (β = 12, 95% CI = 2.5-22, and P = 0.015); plasma p-tau181 was not associated with either (both P > 0.34). INTERPRETATION Findings indicate that plasma GFAP may be sensitive to concomitant AD pathology in LBSD, especially accumulation of β-amyloid plaques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katheryn A Q Cousins
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David J Irwin
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Alice Chen-Plotkin
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Leslie M Shaw
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sanaz Arezoumandan
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Edward B Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - David A Wolk
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Daniel Weintraub
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Meredith Spindler
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andres Deik
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Murray Grossman
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Thomas F Tropea
- Department of Neurology, Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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13
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Massimo L, Cousins KAQ. Physical Activity and Rising Neurofilament Light Chain in Genetic Frontotemporal Degeneration-Diagnosis Is Not Destiny. JAMA Neurol 2023; 80:14-16. [PMID: 36374511 DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2022.4190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Massimo
- Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.,School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
| | - Katheryn A Q Cousins
- Frontotemporal Degeneration Center, Perelman School of Medicine, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
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