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Pressl C, Mätlik K, Kus L, Darnell P, Luo JD, Paul MR, Weiss AR, Liguore W, Carroll TS, Davis DA, McBride J, Heintz N. Selective vulnerability of layer 5a corticostriatal neurons in Huntington's disease. Neuron 2024; 112:924-941.e10. [PMID: 38237588 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuron.2023.12.009] [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: 06/15/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
The properties of the cell types that are selectively vulnerable in Huntington's disease (HD) cortex, the nature of somatic CAG expansions of mHTT in these cells, and their importance in CNS circuitry have not been delineated. Here, we employed serial fluorescence-activated nuclear sorting (sFANS), deep molecular profiling, and single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) of motor-cortex samples from thirteen predominantly early stage, clinically diagnosed HD donors and selected samples from cingulate, visual, insular, and prefrontal cortices to demonstrate loss of layer 5a pyramidal neurons in HD. Extensive mHTT CAG expansions occur in vulnerable layer 5a pyramidal cells, and in Betz cells, layers 6a and 6b neurons that are resilient in HD. Retrograde tracing experiments in macaque brains identify layer 5a neurons as corticostriatal pyramidal cells. We propose that enhanced somatic mHTT CAG expansion and altered synaptic function act together to cause corticostriatal disconnection and selective neuronal vulnerability in HD cerebral cortex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Pressl
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kert Mätlik
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Laura Kus
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paul Darnell
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ji-Dung Luo
- Bioinformatics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew R Paul
- Bioinformatics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Alison R Weiss
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - William Liguore
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Thomas S Carroll
- Bioinformatics Resource Center, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - David A Davis
- Department of Neurology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Jodi McBride
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR, USA
| | - Nathaniel Heintz
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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2
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Pérot JB, Brouillet E, Flament J. The contribution of preclinical magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy to Huntington's disease. Front Aging Neurosci 2024; 16:1306312. [PMID: 38414634 PMCID: PMC10896846 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1306312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease is an inherited disorder characterized by psychiatric, cognitive, and motor symptoms due to degeneration of medium spiny neurons in the striatum. A prodromal phase precedes the onset, lasting decades. Current biomarkers include clinical score and striatal atrophy using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). These markers lack sensitivity for subtle cellular changes during the prodromal phase. MRI and MR spectroscopy offer different contrasts for assessing metabolic, microstructural, functional, or vascular alterations in the disease. They have been used in patients and mouse models. Mouse models can be of great interest to study a specific mechanism of the degenerative process, allow better understanding of the pathogenesis from the prodromal to the symptomatic phase, and to evaluate therapeutic efficacy. Mouse models can be divided into three different constructions: transgenic mice expressing exon-1 of human huntingtin (HTT), mice with an artificial chromosome expressing full-length human HTT, and knock-in mouse models with CAG expansion inserted in the murine htt gene. Several studies have used MRI/S to characterized these models. However, the multiplicity of modalities and mouse models available complicates the understanding of this rich corpus. The present review aims at giving an overview of results obtained using MRI/S for each mouse model of HD, to provide a useful resource for the conception of neuroimaging studies using mouse models of HD. Finally, despite difficulties in translating preclinical protocols to clinical applications, many biomarkers identified in preclinical models have already been evaluated in patients. This review also aims to cover this aspect to demonstrate the importance of MRI/S for studying HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Pérot
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paris-Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
- Institut du Cerveau – Paris Brain Institute – ICM, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Brouillet
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paris-Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Julien Flament
- Laboratoire des Maladies Neurodégénératives, Molecular Imaging Research Center, Commissariat à l’Energie Atomique et aux Energies Alternatives, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université Paris-Saclay, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
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3
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Hobbs NZ, Papoutsi M, Delva A, Kinnunen KM, Nakajima M, Van Laere K, Vandenberghe W, Herath P, Scahill RI. Neuroimaging to Facilitate Clinical Trials in Huntington's Disease: Current Opinion from the EHDN Imaging Working Group. J Huntingtons Dis 2024; 13:163-199. [PMID: 38788082 PMCID: PMC11307036 DOI: 10.3233/jhd-240016] [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] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Neuroimaging is increasingly being included in clinical trials of Huntington's disease (HD) for a wide range of purposes from participant selection and safety monitoring, through to demonstration of disease modification. Selection of the appropriate modality and associated analysis tools requires careful consideration. On behalf of the EHDN Imaging Working Group, we present current opinion on the utility and future prospects for inclusion of neuroimaging in HD trials. Covering the key imaging modalities of structural-, functional- and diffusion- MRI, perfusion imaging, positron emission tomography, magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and magnetoencephalography, we address how neuroimaging can be used in HD trials to: 1) Aid patient selection, enrichment, stratification, and safety monitoring; 2) Demonstrate biodistribution, target engagement, and pharmacodynamics; 3) Provide evidence for disease modification; and 4) Understand brain re-organization following therapy. We also present the challenges of translating research methodology into clinical trial settings, including equipment requirements and cost, standardization of acquisition and analysis, patient burden and invasiveness, and interpretation of results. We conclude, that with appropriate consideration of modality, study design and analysis, imaging has huge potential to facilitate effective clinical trials in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Z. Hobbs
- HD Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
| | - Marina Papoutsi
- HD Research Centre, UCL Institute of Neurology, UCL, London, UK
- IXICO plc, London, UK
| | - Aline Delva
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
| | | | | | - Koen Van Laere
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Division of Nuclear Medicine, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wim Vandenberghe
- Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, University Hospitals Leuven, Belgium
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4
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Pressl C, Mätlik K, Kus L, Darnell P, Luo JD, Paul MR, Weiss AR, Liguore W, Carroll TS, Davis DA, McBride J, Heintz N. Selective Vulnerability of Layer 5a Corticostriatal Neurons in Huntington's Disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.24.538096. [PMID: 37162977 PMCID: PMC10168234 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.24.538096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The properties of the cell types that are selectively vulnerable in Huntington's disease (HD) cortex, the nature of somatic CAG expansions of mHTT in these cells, and their importance in CNS circuitry have not been delineated. Here we employed serial fluorescence activated nuclear sorting (sFANS), deep molecular profiling, and single nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNAseq) to demonstrate that layer 5a pyramidal neurons are vulnerable in primary motor cortex and other cortical areas of HD donors. Extensive mHTT -CAG expansions occur in vulnerable layer 5a pyramidal cells, and in Betz cells, layer 6a, layer 6b neurons that are resilient in HD. Retrograde tracing experiments in macaque brains identify the vulnerable layer 5a neurons as corticostriatal pyramidal cells. We propose that enhanced somatic mHTT -CAG expansion and altered synaptic function act together to cause corticostriatal disconnection and selective neuronal vulnerability in the HD cerebral cortex.
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5
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Manivannan A, Foley LM, Hitchens TK, Rattray I, Bates GP, Modo M. Ex vivo 100 μm isotropic diffusion MRI-based tractography of connectivity changes in the end-stage R6/2 mouse model of Huntington's disease. NEUROPROTECTION 2023; 1:66-83. [PMID: 37745674 PMCID: PMC10516267 DOI: 10.1002/nep3.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Background Huntington's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Brain atrophy, as measured by volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), is a downstream consequence of neurodegeneration, but microstructural changes within brain tissue are expected to precede this volumetric decline. The tissue microstructure can be assayed non-invasively using diffusion MRI, which also allows a tractographic analysis of brain connectivity. Methods We here used ex vivo diffusion MRI (11.7 T) to measure microstructural changes in different brain regions of end-stage (14 weeks of age) wild type and R6/2 mice (male and female) modeling Huntington's disease. To probe the microstructure of different brain regions, reduce partial volume effects and measure connectivity between different regions, a 100 μm isotropic voxel resolution was acquired. Results Although fractional anisotropy did not reveal any difference between wild-type controls and R6/2 mice, mean, axial, and radial diffusivity were increased in female R6/2 mice and decreased in male R6/2 mice. Whole brain streamlines were only reduced in male R6/2 mice, but streamline density was increased. Region-to-region tractography indicated reductions in connectivity between the cortex, hippocampus, and thalamus with the striatum, as well as within the basal ganglia (striatum-globus pallidus-subthalamic nucleus-substantia nigra-thalamus). Conclusions Biological sex and left/right hemisphere affected tractographic results, potentially reflecting different stages of disease progression. This proof-of-principle study indicates that diffusion MRI and tractography potentially provide novel biomarkers that connect volumetric changes across different brain regions. In a translation setting, these measurements constitute a novel tool to assess the therapeutic impact of interventions such as neuroprotective agents in transgenic models, as well as patients with Huntington's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwinee Manivannan
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lesley M. Foley
- Animal Imaging Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - T. Kevin Hitchens
- Animal Imaging Center, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ivan Rattray
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London, UK
| | - Gillian P. Bates
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, Huntington’s Disease Centre and UK Dementia Research Institute at UCL, University College London, London, UK
| | - Michel Modo
- Department of Radiology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Center for the Neural Basis of Cognition, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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6
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Marapin RS, van der Horn HJ, van der Stouwe AMM, Dalenberg JR, de Jong BM, Tijssen MAJ. Altered brain connectivity in hyperkinetic movement disorders: A review of resting-state fMRI. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 37:103302. [PMID: 36669351 PMCID: PMC9868884 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.103302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hyperkinetic movement disorders (HMD) manifest as abnormal and uncontrollable movements. Despite reported involvement of several neural circuits, exact connectivity profiles remain elusive. OBJECTIVES Providing a comprehensive literature review of resting-state brain connectivity alterations using resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI). We additionally discuss alterations from the perspective of brain networks, as well as correlations between connectivity and clinical measures. METHODS A systematic review was performed according to PRISMA guidelines and searching PubMed until October 2022. Rs-fMRI studies addressing ataxia, chorea, dystonia, myoclonus, tics, tremor, and functional movement disorders (FMD) were included. The standardized mean difference was used to summarize findings per region in the Automated Anatomical Labeling atlas for each phenotype. Furthermore, the activation likelihood estimation meta-analytic method was used to analyze convergence of significant between-group differences per phenotype. Finally, we conducted hierarchical cluster analysis to provide additional insights into commonalities and differences across HMD phenotypes. RESULTS Most articles concerned tremor (51), followed by dystonia (46), tics (19), chorea (12), myoclonus (11), FMD (11), and ataxia (8). Altered resting-state connectivity was found in several brain regions: in ataxia mainly cerebellar areas; for chorea, the caudate nucleus; for dystonia, sensorimotor and basal ganglia regions; for myoclonus, the thalamus and cingulate cortex; in tics, the basal ganglia, cerebellum, insula, and frontal cortex; for tremor, the cerebello-thalamo-cortical circuit; finally, in FMD, frontal, parietal, and cerebellar regions. Both decreased and increased connectivity were found for all HMD. Significant spatial convergence was found for dystonia, FMD, myoclonus, and tremor. Correlations between clinical measures and resting-state connectivity were frequently described. CONCLUSION Key brain regions contributing to functional connectivity changes across HMD often overlap. Possible increases and decreases of functional connections of a specific region emphasize that HMD should be viewed as a network disorder. Despite the complex interplay of physiological and methodological factors, this review serves to gain insight in brain connectivity profiles across HMD phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh S Marapin
- University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands; Expertise Center Movement Disorders Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Harm J van der Horn
- University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - A M Madelein van der Stouwe
- University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands; Expertise Center Movement Disorders Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Jelle R Dalenberg
- University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands; Expertise Center Movement Disorders Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Bauke M de Jong
- University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marina A J Tijssen
- University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ Groningen, the Netherlands; Expertise Center Movement Disorders Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG), Groningen, the Netherlands.
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7
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McColgan P, Gregory S, Zeun P, Zarkali A, Johnson EB, Parker C, Fayer K, Lowe J, Nair A, Estevez-Fraga C, Papoutsi M, Zhang H, Scahill RI, Tabrizi SJ, Rees G. Neurofilament light-associated connectivity in young-adult Huntington's disease is related to neuronal genes. Brain 2022; 145:3953-3967. [PMID: 35758263 PMCID: PMC9679168 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Upregulation of functional network connectivity in the presence of structural degeneration is seen in the premanifest stages of Huntington's disease (preHD) 10-15 years from clinical diagnosis. However, whether widespread network connectivity changes are seen in gene carriers much further from onset has yet to be explored. We characterized functional network connectivity throughout the brain and related it to a measure of disease pathology burden (CSF neurofilament light, NfL) and measures of structural connectivity in asymptomatic gene carriers, on average 24 years from onset. We related these measurements to estimates of cortical and subcortical gene expression. We found no overall differences in functional (or structural) connectivity anywhere in the brain comparing control and preHD participants. However, increased functional connectivity, particularly between posterior cortical areas, correlated with increasing CSF NfL level in preHD participants. Using the Allen Human Brain Atlas and expression-weighted cell-type enrichment analysis, we demonstrated that this functional connectivity upregulation occurred in cortical regions associated with regional expression of genes specific to neuronal cells. This relationship was validated using single-nucleus RNAseq data from post-mortem Huntington's disease and control brains showing enrichment of neuronal-specific genes that are differentially expressed in Huntington's disease. Functional brain networks in asymptomatic preHD gene carriers very far from disease onset show evidence of upregulated connectivity correlating with increased disease burden. These changes occur among brain areas that show regional expression of genes specific to neuronal GABAergic and glutamatergic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter McColgan
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Sarah Gregory
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Paul Zeun
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Angeliki Zarkali
- Dementia Research Centre, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Eileanoir B Johnson
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Christopher Parker
- Department of Computer Science and Centre for Medical Image Computing, University College London, London WC1V 6LJ, UK
| | - Kate Fayer
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Jessica Lowe
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Akshay Nair
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- Max Planck University College London Centre for Computational Psychiatry and Ageing Research, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Carlos Estevez-Fraga
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Marina Papoutsi
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Hui Zhang
- Dementia Research Centre, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Rachael I Scahill
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Sarah J Tabrizi
- Huntington’s Disease Centre, Department of Neurodegenerative disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
- Dementia Research Centre, University College London, London WC1N 3AR, UK
| | - Geraint Rees
- University College London Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College London, London WC1N 3AZ, UK
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8
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Jackson TB, Bernard JA. Cerebellar and basal ganglia motor network predicts trait depression and hyperactivity. Front Behav Neurosci 2022; 16:953303. [PMID: 36187378 PMCID: PMC9523104 DOI: 10.3389/fnbeh.2022.953303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In the human brain, the cerebellum (CB) and basal ganglia (BG) are implicated in cognition-, emotion-, and motor-related cortical processes and are highly interconnected, both to cortical regions via separate, trans-thalamic pathways and to each other via subcortical disynaptic pathways. We previously demonstrated a distinction between cognitive and motor CB-BG networks (CCBN, MCBN, respectively) as it relates to cortical network integration in healthy young adults, suggesting the subcortical networks separately support cortical networks. The CB and BG are also implicated in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, Parkinson's, and compulsive behavior; thus, integration within subcortical CB-BG networks may be related to transdiagnostic symptomology. Here, we asked whether CCBN or MCBN integration predicted Achenbach Self-Report scores for anxiety, depression, intrusive thoughts, hyperactivity and inactivity, and cognitive performance in a community sample of young adults. We computed global efficiency for each CB-BG network and 7 canonical resting-state networks for all right-handed participants in the Human Connectome Project 1200 release with a complete set of preprocessed resting-state functional MRI data (N = 783). We used multivariate regression to control for substance abuse and age, and permutation testing with exchangeability blocks to control for family relationships. MCBN integration negatively predicted depression and hyperactivity, and positively predicted cortical network integration. CCBN integration predicted cortical network integration (except for the emotional network) and marginally predicted a positive relationship with hyperactivity, indicating a potential dichotomy between cognitive and motor CB-BG networks and hyperactivity. These results highlight the importance of CB-BG interactions as they relate to motivation and symptoms of depression.
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Affiliation(s)
- T. Bryan Jackson
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: T. Bryan Jackson
| | - Jessica A. Bernard
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
- Texas A&M Institute for Neuroscience, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
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9
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Zhang H, Ille S, Sogerer L, Schwendner M, Schröder A, Meyer B, Wiestler B, Krieg SM. Elucidating the structural-functional connectome of language in glioma-induced aphasia using nTMS and DTI. Hum Brain Mapp 2021; 43:1836-1849. [PMID: 34951084 PMCID: PMC8933329 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.25757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioma‐induced aphasia (GIA) is frequently observed in patients with newly diagnosed gliomas. Previous studies showed an impact of gliomas not only on local brain regions but also on the functionality and structure of brain networks. The current study used navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS) to localize language‐related regions and to explore language function at the network level in combination with connectome analysis. Thirty glioma patients without aphasia (NA) and 30 patients with GIA were prospectively enrolled. Tumors were located in the vicinity of arcuate fasciculus‐related cortical and subcortical regions. The visualized ratio (VR) of each tract was calculated based on their respective fractional anisotropy (FA) and maximal FA. Using a thresholding method of each tract at 25% VR and 50% VR, DTI‐based tractography was performed to construct structural brain networks for graph‐based connectome analysis, containing functional data acquired by nTMS. The average degree of left hemispheric networks (Mleft) was higher in the NA group than in the GIA group for both VR thresholds. Differences of global and local efficiency between 25% and 50% VR thresholds were significantly lower in the NA group than in the GIA group. Aphasia levels correlated with connectome properties in Mleft and networks based on positive nTMS mapping regions (Mpos). A more substantial relation to language performance was found in Mpos and Mleft compared to the network of negative mapping regions (Mneg). Gliomas causing deterioration of language are related to various cerebral networks. In NA patients, mainly Mneg was impacted, while Mpos was impacted in GIA patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haosu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sebastian Ille
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,TUM-Neuroimaging Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Lisa Sogerer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Maximilian Schwendner
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Axel Schröder
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Bernhard Meyer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Benedikt Wiestler
- School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,Center for Translational Cancer Research of the TUM (TranslaTUM), Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Sandro M Krieg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,TUM-Neuroimaging Center, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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10
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Tian T, Li J, Zhang G, Wang J, Liu D, Wan C, Fang J, Wu D, Zhou Y, Zhu W. Effects of childhood trauma experience and COMT Val158Met polymorphism on brain connectivity in a multimodal MRI study. Brain Behav 2020; 10:e01858. [PMID: 32997444 PMCID: PMC7749512 DOI: 10.1002/brb3.1858] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 09/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Childhood adversity may act as a stressor to produce a cascade of neurobiological effects that irreversibly alter neural development, setting the stage for developing psychopathology in adulthood. The catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism has received much attention as a candidate gene associated with environmental adversity, modifying risk for psychopathology. In this study, we aim to see how gene × brain × environment models give a more integrative understanding of brain modifications that contribute to predicting psychopathology related to childhood adversity. A large nonclinical sample of young adults completed Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), behavioral scores, multimodal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, and genotyping. We utilized graph-based connectivity analysis in morphometric similarity mapping and resting-state functional MRI to investigate brain alterations. Relationships among COMT genotypes, CTQ score, imaging phenotypes, and behavioral scores were identified by multiple regression and mediation effect analysis. Significant main effect of CTQ score was found in anatomic connectivity of orbitofrontal cortex that was an outstanding mediator supporting the relationship between CTQ score and anxiety/harm-avoiding personality. We also noted the main effect of childhood trauma on reorganization of functional connectivity within the language network. Additionally, we found genotype × CTQ score interactions on functional connectivity of the right frontoparietal network as well as anatomic connectivity of motor and limbic regions. Our data demonstrate childhood adversity and COMT genotypes are associated with abnormal brain connectivity, structurally and functionally. Early identification of individuals at risk, assessment of brain abnormality, and cognitive interventions may help to prevent or limit negative outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Tian
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jia Li
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Guiling Zhang
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian Wang
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Dong Liu
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Changhua Wan
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jicheng Fang
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Di Wu
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yiran Zhou
- Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wenzhen Zhu
- Department of Radiology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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11
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Weiss AR, Liguore WA, Domire JS, Button D, McBride JL. Intra-striatal AAV2.retro administration leads to extensive retrograde transport in the rhesus macaque brain: implications for disease modeling and therapeutic development. Sci Rep 2020; 10:6970. [PMID: 32332773 PMCID: PMC7181773 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-63559-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, AAV2.retro, a new capsid variant capable of efficient retrograde transport in brain, was generated in mice using a directed evolution approach. However, it remains unclear to what degree transport will be recapitulated in the substantially larger and more complex nonhuman primate (NHP) brain. Here, we compared the biodistribution of AAV2.retro with its parent serotype, AAV2, in adult macaques following delivery into the caudate and putamen, brain regions which comprise the striatum. While AAV2 transduction was primarily limited to the injected brain regions, AAV2.retro transduced cells in the striatum and in dozens of cortical and subcortical regions with known striatal afferents. We then evaluated the capability of AAV2.retro to deliver disease-related gene cargo to biologically-relevant NHP brain circuits by packaging a fragment of human mutant HTT, the causative gene mutation in Huntington’s disease. Following intra-striatal delivery, pathological mHTT-positive protein aggregates were distributed widely among cognitive, motor, and limbic cortico-basal ganglia circuits. Together, these studies demonstrate strong retrograde transport of AAV2.retro in NHP brain, highlight its utility in developing novel NHP models of brain disease and suggest its potential for querying circuit function and delivering therapeutic genes in the brain, particularly where treating dysfunctional circuits, versus single brain regions, is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison R Weiss
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, USA
| | - William A Liguore
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, USA
| | - Jacqueline S Domire
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, USA
| | - Dana Button
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, USA
| | - Jodi L McBride
- Division of Neuroscience, Oregon National Primate Research Center, Beaverton, USA. .,Department of Behavioral Neuroscience, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA. .,Department of Neurology, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, USA.
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12
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Pini L, Jacquemot C, Cagnin A, Meneghello F, Semenza C, Mantini D, Vallesi A. Aberrant brain network connectivity in presymptomatic and manifest Huntington's disease: A systematic review. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 41:256-269. [PMID: 31532053 PMCID: PMC7268025 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs‐fMRI) has the potential to shed light on the pathophysiological mechanisms of Huntington's disease (HD), paving the way to new therapeutic interventions. A systematic literature review was conducted in three online databases according to PRISMA guidelines, using keywords for HD, functional connectivity, and rs‐fMRI. We included studies investigating connectivity in presymptomatic (pre‐HD) and manifest HD gene carriers compared to healthy controls, implementing seed‐based connectivity, independent component analysis, regional property, and graph analysis approaches. Visual network showed reduced connectivity in manifest HD, while network/areas underpinning motor functions were consistently altered in both manifest HD and pre‐HD, showing disease stage‐dependent changes. Cognitive networks underlying executive and attentional functions showed divergent anterior–posterior alterations, possibly reflecting compensatory mechanisms. The involvement of these networks in pre‐HD is still unclear. In conclusion, aberrant connectivity of the sensory‐motor network is observed in the early stage of HD while, as pathology spreads, other networks might be affected, such as the visual and executive/attentional networks. Moreover, sensory‐motor and executive networks exhibit hyper‐ and hypo‐connectivity patterns following different spatiotemporal trajectories. These findings could potentially help to implement future huntingtin‐lowering interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorenzo Pini
- Department of Neuroscience & Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Charlotte Jacquemot
- Département d'Etudes Cognitives, Ecole Normale Supérieure-PSL University, Paris, France.,Laboratoire de NeuroPsychologie Interventionnelle, Institut Mondor de Recherche Biomédicale, Institut National de la Santé et Recherche Médical (INSERM) U955, Equipe 01, Créteil, France.,Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Est Créteil, Créteil, France
| | - Annachiara Cagnin
- Department of Neuroscience & Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy
| | - Francesca Meneghello
- Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group, IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy
| | - Carlo Semenza
- Department of Neuroscience & Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Cognitive Neuroscience Research Group, IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy
| | - Dante Mantini
- Research Center for Motor Control and Neuroplasticity, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Brain Imaging and Neural Dynamics Research Group, IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy
| | - Antonino Vallesi
- Department of Neuroscience & Padova Neuroscience Center, University of Padova, Padova, Italy.,Brain Imaging and Neural Dynamics Research Group, IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy
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13
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Mestre TA, Guttman M. The dawn of a new era for neurodegenerative disorders: Huntington's disease leading the way. Mov Disord 2019; 34:1301-1302. [PMID: 31433876 DOI: 10.1002/mds.27826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Tiago A Mestre
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, The Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Mark Guttman
- Centre for Movement Disorders, Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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14
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Benito-León J, Sanz-Morales E, Melero H, Louis ED, Romero JP, Rocon E, Malpica N. Graph theory analysis of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging in essential tremor. Hum Brain Mapp 2019; 40:4686-4702. [PMID: 31332912 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.24730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Essential tremor (ET) is a neurological disease with both motor and nonmotor manifestations; however, little is known about its underlying brain basis. Furthermore, the overall organization of the brain network in ET remains largely unexplored. We investigated the topological properties of brain functional network, derived from resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data, in 23 ET patients versus 23 healthy controls. Graph theory analysis was used to assess the functional network organization. At the global level, the functional network of ET patients was characterized by lower small-worldness values than healthy controls-less clustered functionality of the brain. At the regional level, compared with the healthy controls, ET patients showed significantly higher values of global efficiency, cost and degree, and a shorter average path length in the left inferior frontal gyrus (pars opercularis), right inferior temporal gyrus (posterior division and temporo-occipital part), right inferior lateral occipital cortex, left paracingulate, bilateral precuneus bilaterally, left lingual gyrus, right hippocampus, left amygdala, nucleus accumbens bilaterally, and left middle temporal gyrus (posterior part). In addition, ET patients showed significant higher local efficiency and clustering coefficient values in frontal medial cortex bilaterally, subcallosal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, parahippocampal gyri bilaterally (posterior division), right lingual gyrus, right cerebellar flocculus, right postcentral gyrus, right inferior semilunar lobule of cerebellum and culmen of vermis. Finally, the right intracalcarine cortex and the left orbitofrontal cortex showed a shorter average path length in ET patients, while the left frontal operculum and the right planum polare showed a higher betweenness centrality in ET patients. In conclusion, the efficiency of the overall brain functional network in ET is disrupted. Further, our results support the concept that ET is a disorder that disrupts widespread brain regions, including those outside of the brain regions responsible for tremor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián Benito-León
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital 12 de Octubre, Madrid, Spain.,Center of Biomedical Network Research on Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Complutense University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Emilio Sanz-Morales
- Medical Image Analysis Laboratory (LAIMBIO), Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Helena Melero
- Medical Image Analysis Laboratory (LAIMBIO), Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
| | - Elan D Louis
- Department of Neurology, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.,Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.,Center for Neuroepidemiology and Clinical Neurological Research, Yale School of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Juan P Romero
- Faculty of Biosanitary Sciences, Francisco de Vitoria University, Madrid, Spain.,Brain Damage Unit, Hospital Beata Maria Ana, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Rocon
- Neural and Cognitive Engineering group, Center for Automation and Robotics (CAR) CSIC-UPM, Arganda del Rey, Spain
| | - Norberto Malpica
- Medical Image Analysis Laboratory (LAIMBIO), Rey Juan Carlos University, Madrid, Spain
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15
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Johnson EB, Gregory S. Huntington's disease: Brain imaging in Huntington's disease. PROGRESS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY AND TRANSLATIONAL SCIENCE 2019; 165:321-369. [PMID: 31481169 DOI: 10.1016/bs.pmbts.2019.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) gene-carriers show prominent neuronal loss by end-stage disease, and the use of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been increasingly used to quantify brain changes during earlier stages of the disease. MRI offers an in vivo method of measuring structural and functional brain change. The images collected via MRI are processed to measure different anatomical features, such as brain volume, macro- and microstructural changes within white matter and functional brain activity. Structural imaging has demonstrated significant volume loss across multiple white and gray matter regions in HD, particularly within subcortical structures. There also appears to be increasing disorganization of white matter tracts and between-region connectivity with increasing disease progression. Finally, functional changes are thought to represent changes in brain activity underlying compensatory mechanisms in HD. This chapter will provide an overview of the principles of MRI and practicalities associated with using MRI in HD studies, and summarize findings from MRI studies investigating brain structure and function in HD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eileanoir B Johnson
- Huntington's Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Gregory
- Huntington's Disease Centre, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom.
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16
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Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Huntington's Disease. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2018; 142:381-408. [PMID: 30409260 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2018.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease is an inherited neurodegenerative condition characterized by motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric disturbance. The effects of the underlying pathology on brain morphology are relatively well understood. Numerous structural Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) studies have demonstrated macrostructural change with widespread striatal and cortical atrophy and microstructural white matter loss in premanifest and manifest HD gene carriers. However, disease effects on brain function are less well characterized. Functional MRI provides an opportunity to examine differences in brain activity either in response to a particular task or in the brain at rest. There is increasing evidence that HD gene carriers exhibit altered activation patterns and functional connectivity between brain regions in response to the neurodegenerative process. Here we review the growing literature in this area and critically evaluate the utility of this imaging modality.
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17
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Fazio P, Paucar M, Svenningsson P, Varrone A. Novel Imaging Biomarkers for Huntington's Disease and Other Hereditary Choreas. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 2018; 18:85. [PMID: 30291526 PMCID: PMC6182636 DOI: 10.1007/s11910-018-0890-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW Imaging biomarkers for neurodegenerative disorders are primarily developed with the goal to aid diagnosis, to monitor disease progression, and to assess the efficacy of disease-modifying therapies in support to clinical outcomes that may either show limited sensitivity or need extended time for their evaluation. This article will review the most recent concepts and findings in the field of neuroimaging applied to Huntington's disease and Huntington-like syndromes. Emphasis will be given to the discussion of potential pharmacodynamic biomarkers for clinical trials in Huntington's disease (HD) and of neuroimaging tools that can be used as diagnostic biomarkers in HD-like syndromes. RECENT FINDINGS Several magnetic resonance (MR) and positron emission tomography (PET) molecular imaging tools have been identified as potential pharmacodynamic biomarkers and others are in the pipeline after preclinical validation. MRI and 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose PET can be considered useful supportive diagnostic tools for the differentiation of other HD-like syndromes. New trials in HD have the primary goal to lower mutant huntingtin (mHTT) protein levels in the brain in order to reduce or alter the progression of the disease. MR and PET molecular imaging markers have been developed as tools to monitor disease progression and to evaluate treatment outcomes of disease-modifying trials in HD. These markers could be used alone or in combination for detecting structural and pharmacodynamic changes potentially associated with the lowering of mHTT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrik Fazio
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm County Council, R5:02 Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden.
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Martin Paucar
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Per Svenningsson
- Department of Neurology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Molecular Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Andrea Varrone
- Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Psychiatry Research, Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm County Council, R5:02 Karolinska University Hospital, SE-171 76, Stockholm, Sweden
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18
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Hohenfeld C, Werner CJ, Reetz K. Resting-state connectivity in neurodegenerative disorders: Is there potential for an imaging biomarker? Neuroimage Clin 2018; 18:849-870. [PMID: 29876270 PMCID: PMC5988031 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 02/06/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Biomarkers in whichever modality are tremendously important in diagnosing of disease, tracking disease progression and clinical trials. This applies in particular for disorders with a long disease course including pre-symptomatic stages, in which only subtle signs of clinical progression can be observed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) biomarkers hold particular promise due to their relative ease of use, cost-effectiveness and non-invasivity. Studies measuring resting-state functional MR connectivity have become increasingly common during recent years and are well established in neuroscience and related fields. Its increasing application does of course also include clinical settings and therein neurodegenerative diseases. In the present review, we critically summarise the state of the literature on resting-state functional connectivity as measured with functional MRI in neurodegenerative disorders. In addition to an overview of the results, we briefly outline the methods applied to the concept of resting-state functional connectivity. While there are many different neurodegenerative disorders cumulatively affecting a substantial number of patients, for most of them studies on resting-state fMRI are lacking. Plentiful amounts of papers are available for Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD), but only few works being available for the less common neurodegenerative diseases. This allows some conclusions on the potential of resting-state fMRI acting as a biomarker for the aforementioned two diseases, but only tentative statements for the others. For AD, the literature contains a relatively strong consensus regarding an impairment of the connectivity of the default mode network compared to healthy individuals. However, for AD there is no considerable documentation on how that alteration develops longitudinally with the progression of the disease. For PD, the available research points towards alterations of connectivity mainly in limbic and motor related regions and networks, but drawing conclusions for PD has to be done with caution due to a relative heterogeneity of the disease. For rare neurodegenerative diseases, no clear conclusions can be drawn due to the few published results. Nevertheless, summarising available data points towards characteristic connectivity alterations in Huntington's disease, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple systems atrophy and the spinocerebellar ataxias. Overall at this point in time, the data on AD are most promising towards the eventual use of resting-state fMRI as an imaging biomarker, although there remain issues such as reproducibility of results and a lack of data demonstrating longitudinal changes. Improved methods providing more precise classifications as well as resting-state network changes that are sensitive to disease progression or therapeutic intervention are highly desirable, before routine clinical use could eventually become a reality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Hohenfeld
- RWTH Aachen University, Department of Neurology, Aachen, Germany; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Cornelius J Werner
- RWTH Aachen University, Department of Neurology, Aachen, Germany; RWTH Aachen University, Section Interdisciplinary Geriatrics, Aachen, Germany
| | - Kathrin Reetz
- RWTH Aachen University, Department of Neurology, Aachen, Germany; JARA-BRAIN Institute Molecular Neuroscience and Neuroimaging, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH and RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
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19
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Eddy CM, Rickards HE, Hansen PC. Through your eyes or mine? The neural correlates of mental state recognition in Huntington's disease. Hum Brain Mapp 2017; 39:1354-1366. [PMID: 29250867 DOI: 10.1002/hbm.23923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Revised: 11/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) can impair social cognition. This study investigated whether patients with HD exhibit neural differences to healthy controls when they are considering mental and physical states relating to the static expressions of human eyes. Thirty-two patients with HD and 28 age-matched controls were scanned with fMRI during two versions of the Reading the Mind in the Eyes Task: The standard version requiring mental state judgments, and a comparison version requiring judgments about age. HD was associated with behavioral deficits on only the mental state eyes task. Contrasting the two versions of the eyes task (mental state > age judgment) revealed hypoactivation within left middle frontal gyrus and supramarginal gyrus in HD. Subgroup analyses comparing premanifest HD patients to age-matched controls revealed reduced activity in right supramarginal gyrus and increased activity in anterior cingulate during mental state recognition in these patients, while manifest HD was associated with hypoactivity in left insula and left supramarginal gyrus. When controlling for the effects of healthy aging, manifest patients exhibited declining activation within areas including right temporal pole. Our findings provide compelling evidence for a selective impairment of internal emotional status when patients with HD appraise facial features in order to make social judgements. Differential activity in temporal and anterior cingulate cortices may suggest that poor emotion regulation and emotional egocentricity underlie impaired mental state recognition in premanifest patients, while more extensive mental state recognition impairments in manifest disease reflect dysfunction in neural substrates underlying executive functions, and the experience and interpretation of emotion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare M Eddy
- BSMHFT National Centre for Mental Health, Birmingham, United Kingdom.,College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Hugh E Rickards
- BSMHFT National Centre for Mental Health, Birmingham, United Kingdom.,College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Peter C Hansen
- Birmingham University Imaging Centre and School of Psychology, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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20
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Piano C, Imperatori C, Losurdo A, Bentivoglio AR, Cortelli P, Della Marca G. Sleep-related modifications of EEG connectivity in the sensory-motor networks in Huntington Disease: An eLORETA study and review of the literature. Clin Neurophysiol 2017; 128:1354-1363. [DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2016.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2016] [Revised: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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21
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Intact sensory-motor network structure and function in far from onset premanifest Huntington's disease. Sci Rep 2017; 7:43841. [PMID: 28266655 PMCID: PMC5339687 DOI: 10.1038/srep43841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2016] [Accepted: 01/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Structural and functional changes attributable to the neurodegenerative process in Huntington's disease (HD) may be evident in HTT CAG repeat expansion carriers before the clinical manifestations of HD. It remains unclear, though, how far from motor onset a consistent signature of the neurodegenerative process in HD can be detected. Twelve far from onset preHD and 22 age-matched healthy control participants underwent volumetric structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and resting-state functional MRI (11 preHD, 22 controls) as well as electrophysiological measurements (12 preHD, 13 controls). There were no significant differences in white matter macro- and microstructure between far from onset preHD participants and controls. Functional connectivity in a basal ganglia-thalamic and motor networks, all measures of the motor efferent and sensory afferent pathways as well as sensory-motor integration were also similar in far from onset preHD and controls. With the methods used in far from onset preHD sensory-motor neural macro- or micro-structure and brain function were similar to healthy controls. This suggests that any observable structural and functional change in preHD nearer to onset, or in manifest HD, at least using comparable techniques such as in this study, most likely reflects an ongoing neurodegenerative process.
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