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Murthy M, Fodder K, Miki Y, Rambarack N, De Pablo Fernandez E, Pihlstrøm L, Mill J, Warner TT, Lashley T, Bettencourt C. DNA methylation patterns in the frontal lobe white matter of multiple system atrophy, Parkinson's disease, and progressive supranuclear palsy: a cross-comparative investigation. Acta Neuropathol 2024; 148:4. [PMID: 38995454 PMCID: PMC11245434 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-024-02764-4] [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: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 07/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/04/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare neurodegenerative disease characterized by neuronal loss and gliosis, with oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCIs) containing α-synuclein being the primary pathological hallmark. Clinical presentations of MSA overlap with other parkinsonian disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP), posing challenges in early diagnosis. Numerous studies have reported alterations in DNA methylation in neurodegenerative diseases, with candidate loci being identified in various parkinsonian disorders including MSA, PD, and PSP. Although MSA and PSP present with substantial white matter pathology, alterations in white matter have also been reported in PD. However, studies comparing the DNA methylation architectures of white matter in these diseases are lacking. We therefore aimed to investigate genome-wide DNA methylation patterns in the frontal lobe white matter of individuals with MSA (n = 17), PD (n = 17), and PSP (n = 16) along with controls (n = 15) using the Illumina EPIC array, to identify shared and disease-specific DNA methylation alterations. Genome-wide DNA methylation profiling of frontal lobe white matter in the three parkinsonian disorders revealed substantial commonalities in DNA methylation alterations in MSA, PD, and PSP. We further used weighted gene correlation network analysis to identify disease-associated co-methylation signatures and identified dysregulation in processes relating to Wnt signaling, signal transduction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, mitochondrial processes, RNA interference, and endosomal transport to be shared between these parkinsonian disorders. Our overall analysis points toward more similarities in DNA methylation patterns between MSA and PD, both synucleinopathies, compared to that between MSA and PD with PSP, which is a tauopathy. Our results also highlight several shared DNA methylation changes and pathways indicative of converging molecular mechanisms in the white matter contributing toward neurodegeneration in all three parkinsonian disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megha Murthy
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Katherine Fodder
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Yasuo Miki
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Brain Science, Hirosaki University Graduate School of Medicine, Hirosaki, Japan
| | - Naiomi Rambarack
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Eduardo De Pablo Fernandez
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Lasse Pihlstrøm
- Department of Neurology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jonathan Mill
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - Thomas T Warner
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Department of Clinical and Movement Neurosciences, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
- Reta Lila Weston Institute, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Conceição Bettencourt
- Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological Disorders, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK.
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Pang H, Yu Z, Yu H, Li X, Bu S, Liu Y, Wang J, Zhao M, Fan G. Advanced Cognitive Patterns in Multiple System Atrophy Compared to Parkinson's Disease: An Individual Diffusion Tensor Imaging Study. Acad Radiol 2024; 31:2897-2909. [PMID: 38220569 DOI: 10.1016/j.acra.2024.01.006] [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: 11/09/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES Although both Multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's disease (PD) belong to alpha-synucleinopathy, they have divergent clinical courses and prognoses. The degeneration of white matter has a considerable impact on cognitive performance, yet it is uncertain how PD and MSA affect its functioning in a similar or different manner. METHODS In this study, a total of 116 individuals (37 PD with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI), 37 MSA (parkinsonian variant) with mild cognitive impairment (MSA-MCI), and 42 healthy controls) underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and cognitive assessment. Utilizing probabilistic fiber tracking, association fibers, projection fibers, and thalamic fibers were reconstructed. Subsequently, regression, support vector machine, and SHAP (Shapley Addictive exPlanations) analyzes were conducted to evaluate the association between microstructural diffusion metrics and multiple cognitive domains, thus determining the white matter predictors of MCI. RESULTS MSA-MCI patients exhibited distinct white matter impairment extending to the middle cerebellar peduncle, corticospinal tract, and cingulum bundle. Furthermore, the fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD)values of the right anterior thalamic radiation were significantly associated with global efficiency (FA: B = 0.69, P < 0.001, VIF = 1.31; MD: B = -0.53, P = 0.02, VIF = 2.50). The diffusion metrics of white matter between PD-MCI and MSA-MCI proved to be an effective predictor of the MCI, with an accuracy of 0.73 (P < 0.01), and the most predictive factor being the MD of the anterior thalamic radiation. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrated that MSA-MCI had a more noticeable deterioration in white matter, which potentially linked to various cognitive domain connections. Diffusion MRI could be a useful tool in comprehending the neurological basis of cognitive impairment in Parkinsonian disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huize Pang
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China (H.P., Z.Y., X.L., S.B., Y.L., J.W., M.Z., G.F.)
| | - Ziyang Yu
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China (H.P., Z.Y., X.L., S.B., Y.L., J.W., M.Z., G.F.)
| | - Hongmei Yu
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China (H.Y.)
| | - Xiaolu Li
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China (H.P., Z.Y., X.L., S.B., Y.L., J.W., M.Z., G.F.)
| | - Shuting Bu
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China (H.P., Z.Y., X.L., S.B., Y.L., J.W., M.Z., G.F.)
| | - Yu Liu
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China (H.P., Z.Y., X.L., S.B., Y.L., J.W., M.Z., G.F.)
| | - Juzhou Wang
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China (H.P., Z.Y., X.L., S.B., Y.L., J.W., M.Z., G.F.)
| | - Mengwan Zhao
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China (H.P., Z.Y., X.L., S.B., Y.L., J.W., M.Z., G.F.)
| | - Guoguang Fan
- Department of Radiology, First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning Province, China (H.P., Z.Y., X.L., S.B., Y.L., J.W., M.Z., G.F.).
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Raghavan S, Lesnick TG, Castillo AM, Reid RI, Fought AJ, Thostenson KB, Johnson Sparrman KL, Gehrking TL, Gehrking JA, Sletten DM, Low PA, Singer W, Vemuri P. White Matter Abnormalities Track Disease Progression in Multiple System Atrophy. Mov Disord Clin Pract 2024. [PMID: 38923361 DOI: 10.1002/mdc3.14147] [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: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND White matter (WM) abnormalities have been implicated in clinically relevant functional decline in multiple system atrophy (MSA). OBJECTIVE To identify the WM and gray matter (GM) abnormalities in MSA and assess the utility of longitudinal structural and diffusion changes as surrogate markers for tracking disease progression in MSA. METHODS Twenty-seven participants with early MSA [15 with clinically predominant cerebellar (MSA-C) and 12 with clinically predominant parkinsonian features (MSA-P)] and 14 controls were enrolled as a part of our prospective, longitudinal study of synucleinopathies. Using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and diffusion MRI (diffusion tensor and neurite orientation and dispersion density imaging), we analyzed whole and regional brain changes in these participants. We also evaluated temporal imaging trajectories based on up to three annual follow-up scans and assessed the impact of baseline diagnosis on these imaging biomarkers using mixed-effect models. RESULTS MSA patients exhibited more widespread WM changes than GM, particularly in the cerebellum and brainstem, with greater severity in MSA-C. Structural and diffusion measures in the cerebellum WM and brainstem deteriorated with disease progression. Rates of progression of these abnormalities were similar in both MSA subtypes, reflecting increasing overlap of clinical features over time. CONCLUSION WM abnormalities are core features of MSA disease progression and advance at similar rates in clinical MSA subtypes. Multimodal MRI imaging reveals novel insights into the distribution and pattern of brain abnormalities and their progression in MSA. Selected structural and diffusion measures may be useful for tracking disease progression in MSA clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Timothy G Lesnick
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Anna M Castillo
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Robert I Reid
- Department of Information Technology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Angela J Fought
- Department of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Phillip A Low
- Department of Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
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Cheng A, Jia W, Finkelstein DI, Stefanova N, Wang H, Sasaki T, Kawahata I, Fukunaga K. Pharmacological inhibition of FABP7 by MF 6 counteracts cerebellum dysfunction in an experimental multiple system atrophy mouse model. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2024; 45:66-75. [PMID: 37605049 PMCID: PMC10770047 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-023-01138-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare, fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by the accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein (αSyn) in glial cells, leading to the formation of glial cytoplasmic inclusions (GCI). We previous found that glial fatty acid-binding protein 7 (FABP7) played a crucial role in alpha-synuclein (αSyn) aggregation and toxicity in oligodendrocytes, inhibition of FABP7 by a specific inhibitor MF 6 reduced αSyn aggregation and enhanced cell viability in cultured cell lines and mouse oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. In this study we investigated whether MF 6 ameliorated αSyn-associated pathological processes in PLP-hαSyn transgenic mice (PLP-αSyn mice), a wildly used MSA mouse model with overexpressing αSyn in oligodendroglia under the proteolipid protein (PLP) promoter. PLP-αSyn mice were orally administered MF6 (0.1, 1 mg ·kg-1 ·d-1) for 32 days starting from the age of 6 months. We showed that oral administration of MF 6 significantly improved motor function assessed in a pole test, and reduced αSyn aggregation levels in both cerebellum and basal ganglia of PLP-αSyn mice. Moreover, MF 6 administration decreased oxidative stress and inflammation levels, and improved myelin levels and Purkinje neuron morphology in the cerebellum. By using mouse brain tissue slices and αSyn aggregates-treated KG-1C cells, we demonstrated that MF 6 reduced αSyn propagation to Purkinje neurons and oligodendrocytes through regulating endocytosis. Overall, these results suggest that MF 6 improves cerebellar functions in MSA by inhibiting αSyn aggregation and propagation. We conclude that MF 6 is a promising compound that warrants further development for the treatment of MSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- An Cheng
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
- Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA.
| | - Wenbin Jia
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - David I Finkelstein
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Nadia Stefanova
- Laboratory for Translational Neurodegeneration Research, Division of Neurobiology, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Haoyang Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Takuya Sasaki
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Ichiro Kawahata
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan
| | - Kohji Fukunaga
- Department of Pharmacology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
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Saramowicz K, Siwecka N, Galita G, Kucharska-Lusina A, Rozpędek-Kamińska W, Majsterek I. Alpha-Synuclein Contribution to Neuronal and Glial Damage in Parkinson's Disease. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 25:360. [PMID: 38203531 PMCID: PMC10778752 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25010360] [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: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disease characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the widespread accumulation of alpha-synuclein (αSyn) protein aggregates. αSyn aggregation disrupts critical cellular processes, including synaptic function, mitochondrial integrity, and proteostasis, which culminate in neuronal cell death. Importantly, αSyn pathology extends beyond neurons-it also encompasses spreading throughout the neuronal environment and internalization by microglia and astrocytes. Once internalized, glia can act as neuroprotective scavengers, which limit the spread of αSyn. However, they can also become reactive, thereby contributing to neuroinflammation and the progression of PD. Recent advances in αSyn research have enabled the molecular diagnosis of PD and accelerated the development of targeted therapies. Nevertheless, despite more than two decades of research, the cellular function, aggregation mechanisms, and induction of cellular damage by αSyn remain incompletely understood. Unraveling the interplay between αSyn, neurons, and glia may provide insights into disease initiation and progression, which may bring us closer to exploring new effective therapeutic strategies. Herein, we provide an overview of recent studies emphasizing the multifaceted nature of αSyn and its impact on both neuron and glial cell damage.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Ireneusz Majsterek
- Department of Clinical Chemistry and Biochemistry, Medical University of Lodz, 92-215 Lodz, Poland; (K.S.); (N.S.); (G.G.); (A.K.-L.); (W.R.-K.)
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Ye Z, Gary SE. Editorial for "Alterations in Resting-State MR Functional Connectivity of the Central Autonomic Network in Multiple System Atrophy and Relationship With Disease Severity". J Magn Reson Imaging 2023; 58:1488-1489. [PMID: 36974950 DOI: 10.1002/jmri.28692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zezhong Ye
- Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (AIM) Program, Mass General Brigham, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sam E Gary
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama, USA
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Cuoco S, Ponticorvo S, Bisogno R, Manara R, Esposito F, Di Salle G, Di Salle F, Amboni M, Erro R, Picillo M, Barone P, Pellecchia MT. Magnetic Resonance T1w/T2w Ratio in the Putamen and Cerebellum as a Marker of Cognitive Impairment in MSA: a Longitudinal Study. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2023; 22:810-817. [PMID: 35982370 PMCID: PMC10485110 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-022-01455-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The exact pathophysiology of cognitive impairment in multiple system atrophy (MSA) is unclear. In our longitudinal study, we aimed to analyze (I) the relationships between cognitive functions and some subcortical structures, such as putamen and cerebellum assessed by voxel-based morphometry (VBM) and T1-weighted/T2-weighted (T1w/T2w) ratio, and (II) the neuroimaging predictors of the progression of cognitive deficits. Twenty-six patients with MSA underwent a comprehensive neuropsychological battery, motor examination, and brain MRI at baseline (T0) and 1-year follow-up (T1). Patients were then divided according to cognitive status into MSA with normal cognition (MSA-NC) and MSA with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). At T1, we divided the sample according to worsening/non worsening of cognitive status compared to baseline evaluation. Logistic regression analysis showed that age (β = - 9.45, p = .02) and T1w/T2w value in the left putamen (β = 230.64, p = .01) were significant predictors of global cognitive status at T0, explaining 65% of the variance. Logistic regression analysis showed that ∆-values of WM density in the cerebellum/brainstem (β = 2188.70, p = .02) significantly predicted cognitive worsening at T1, explaining 64% of the variance. Our results suggest a role for the putamen and cerebellum in the cognitive changes of MSA, probably due to their connections with the cortex. The putaminal T1w/T2w ratio may deserve further studies as a marker of cognitive impairment in MSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Cuoco
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, 84131, Salerno, Italy
| | - Sara Ponticorvo
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, 84131, Salerno, Italy
| | - Rossella Bisogno
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, 84131, Salerno, Italy
| | - Renzo Manara
- Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, 35128, Padua, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Esposito
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli, Napoli, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Di Salle
- Scuola Superiore Di Studi Universitari E Perfezionamento Sant'Anna, Classe Di Scienze Sperimentali, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Di Salle
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, 84131, Salerno, Italy
| | - Marianna Amboni
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, 84131, Salerno, Italy
| | - Roberto Erro
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, 84131, Salerno, Italy
| | - Marina Picillo
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, 84131, Salerno, Italy
| | - Paolo Barone
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, 84131, Salerno, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Pellecchia
- Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (CEMAND), Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Neuroscience Section, University of Salerno, 84131, Salerno, Italy.
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Jellinger KA. Morphological differences between the two major subtypes of multiple system atrophy with cognitive impairment. Parkinsonism Relat Disord 2023; 107:105273. [PMID: 36603328 DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2022.105273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 11/17/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To compare the neuropathology between two types of multiple system atrophy - parkinsonism-predominant (MSA-P) and cerebellar ataxia-predominant (MSA-C) with cognitive impairment. MATERIAL & METHODS 35 cases of MSA-P (mean age at death 60.5 ± 7.8 years) and 15 cases of MSA-C (mean age at death 61.3 ± 6.8 years), 35.% of which associated with mild to moderate cognitive impairment and one with severe dementia, were examined neuropathologically with semiquantitative evaluation of both α-synuclein and Alzheimer pathologies, including cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) and other co-pathologies. RESULTS While the mean age at death of both MSA subgroups was similar, the age at onset and duration of disease were slightly higher in the MSA-C group. In line with the classification, the αSyn pathology glial and neuronal inclusions in both the cortex and brainstem were significantly higher in the MSA-P group. With regard to the Alzheimer disease pathology, tau load in cases with mild to moderate cognitive impairment was slightly but not significantly higher in the MSA-P group, one with severe dementia showing fully developed Alzheimer co-pathology, while the amyloid-β (Aβ) load including the CAA was higher in the MSA-C group. The presence of Lewy co-pathology in this series (20%), being similar to that of other MSA cohorts, was more frequent in MSA cases with mild to severe cognitive impairment, but did not differ between the two subgroups and seems not essentially important for MCI in MSA. CONCLUSIONS In agreement with previous clinical studies that reported more severe cognitive dysfunction in patients with MSA-P, the present neuropathological study showed increased tau pathology in MSA-P and one with severe Alzheimer co-pathology, but only slightly increased amyloid pathology in the MSA-C group. Lewy co-pathology was more frequent in MSA-P cases with cognitive decline. In view of the limited data about the pathobiological basis of cognitive impairment in MSA, further studies to elucidate the differences between the two phenotypes are urgently needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt A Jellinger
- Institute of Clinical Neurobiology, Alberichgasse 5/13, A-1150, Vienna, Austria.
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Murthy M, Shireby G, Miki Y, Viré E, Lashley T, Warner TT, Mill J, Bettencourt C. Epigenetic age acceleration is associated with oligodendrocyte proportions in MSA and control brain tissue. Neuropathol Appl Neurobiol 2023; 49:e12872. [PMID: 36542090 PMCID: PMC10107510 DOI: 10.1111/nan.12872] [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: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Epigenetic clocks are widely applied as surrogates for biological age in different tissues and/or diseases, including several neurodegenerative diseases. Despite white matter (WM) changes often being observed in neurodegenerative diseases, no study has investigated epigenetic ageing in white matter. METHODS We analysed the performances of two DNA methylation-based clocks, DNAmClockMulti and DNAmClockCortical , in post-mortem WM tissue from multiple subcortical regions and the cerebellum, and in oligodendrocyte-enriched nuclei. We also examined epigenetic ageing in control and multiple system atrophy (MSA) (WM and mixed WM and grey matter), as MSA is a neurodegenerative disease comprising pronounced WM changes and α-synuclein aggregates in oligodendrocytes. RESULTS Estimated DNA methylation (DNAm) ages showed strong correlations with chronological ages, even in WM (e.g., DNAmClockCortical , r = [0.80-0.97], p < 0.05). However, performances and DNAm age estimates differed between clocks and brain regions. DNAmClockMulti significantly underestimated ages in all cohorts except in the MSA prefrontal cortex mixed tissue, whereas DNAmClockCortical tended towards age overestimations. Pronounced age overestimations in the oligodendrocyte-enriched cohorts (e.g., oligodendrocyte-enriched nuclei, p = 6.1 × 10-5 ) suggested that this cell type ages faster. Indeed, significant positive correlations were observed between estimated oligodendrocyte proportions and DNAm age acceleration estimated by DNAmClockCortical (r > 0.31, p < 0.05), and similar trends were obtained with DNAmClockMulti . Although increased age acceleration was observed in MSA compared with controls, no significant differences were detected upon adjustment for possible confounders (e.g., cell-type proportions). CONCLUSIONS Our findings show that oligodendrocyte proportions positively influence epigenetic age acceleration across brain regions and highlight the need to further investigate this in ageing and neurodegeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megha Murthy
- Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Department of Clinical and Movement NeurosciencesUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Gemma Shireby
- University of Exeter Medical SchoolUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Yasuo Miki
- Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Department of Neuropathology, Institute of Brain ScienceHirosaki University Graduate School of MedicineHirosakiJapan
| | - Emmanuelle Viré
- UCL Institute of Prion Diseases, MRC Prion Unit at UCLUniversity College LondonLondonUK
| | - Tammaryn Lashley
- Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological DisordersUCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology1 Wakefield StreetLondonWC1N 1PJUK
| | - Thomas T. Warner
- Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Department of Clinical and Movement NeurosciencesUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
- Reta Lila Weston InstituteUCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyLondonUK
| | - Jonathan Mill
- University of Exeter Medical SchoolUniversity of ExeterExeterUK
| | - Conceição Bettencourt
- Queen Square Brain Bank, UCL Queen Square Institute of NeurologyUniversity College LondonLondonUK
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Queen Square Brain Bank for Neurological DisordersUCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology1 Wakefield StreetLondonWC1N 1PJUK
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de la Monte SM. Malignant Brain Aging: The Formidable Link Between Dysregulated Signaling Through Mechanistic Target of Rapamycin Pathways and Alzheimer's Disease (Type 3 Diabetes). J Alzheimers Dis 2023; 95:1301-1337. [PMID: 37718817 PMCID: PMC10896181 DOI: 10.3233/jad-230555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Malignant brain aging corresponds to accelerated age-related declines in brain functions eventually derailing the self-sustaining forces that govern independent vitality. Malignant brain aging establishes the path toward dementing neurodegeneration, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). The full spectrum of AD includes progressive dysfunction of neurons, oligodendrocytes, astrocytes, microglia, and the microvascular systems, and is mechanistically driven by insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF) deficiencies and resistances with accompanying deficits in energy balance, increased cellular stress, inflammation, and impaired perfusion, mimicking the core features of diabetes mellitus. The underlying pathophysiological derangements result in mitochondrial dysfunction, abnormal protein aggregation, increased oxidative and endoplasmic reticulum stress, aberrant autophagy, and abnormal post-translational modification of proteins, all of which are signature features of both AD and dysregulated insulin/IGF-1-mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling. This article connects the dots from benign to malignant aging to neurodegeneration by reviewing the salient pathologies associated with initially adaptive and later dysfunctional mTOR signaling in the brain. Effective therapeutic and preventive measures must be two-pronged and designed to 1) address complex and shifting impairments in mTOR signaling through the re-purpose of effective anti-diabetes therapeutics that target the brain, and 2) minimize the impact of extrinsic mediators of benign to malignant aging transitions, e.g., inflammatory states, obesity, systemic insulin resistance diseases, and repeated bouts of general anesthesia, by minimizing exposures or implementing neuroprotective measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M. de la Monte
- Departments of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Medicine, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Rhode Island Hospital, Lifespan Academic Institutions, and the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
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Ponticorvo S, Manara R, Russillo MC, Andreozzi V, Forino L, Erro R, Picillo M, Amboni M, Cuoco S, Di Salle G, Di Salle F, Barone P, Esposito F, Pellecchia MT. Combined regional T1w/T2w ratio and voxel-based morphometry in multiple system atrophy: A follow-up study. Front Neurol 2022; 13:1017311. [PMID: 36341112 PMCID: PMC9626981 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2022.1017311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Several MRI techniques have become available to support the early diagnosis of multiple system atrophy (MSA), but few longitudinal studies on both MSA variants have been performed, and there are no established MRI markers of disease progression. We aimed to characterize longitudinal brain changes in 26 patients with MSA (14 MSA-P and 12 MSA-C) over a 1-year follow-up period in terms of local tissue density and T1w/T2w ratio in a-priori regions, namely, bilateral putamen, cerebellar gray matter (GM), white matter (WM), and substantia nigra (SN). A significant GM density decrease was found in cerebellum and left putamen in the entire group (10.7 and 33.1% variation, respectively) and both MSA subtypes (MSA-C: 15.4 and 33.0% variation; MSA-P: 7.7 and 33.2%) and in right putamen in the entire group (19.8% variation) and patients with MSA-C (20.9% variation). A WM density decrease was found in the entire group (9.3% variation) and both subtypes in cerebellum-brainstem (MSA-C: 18.0% variation; MSA-P: 5% variation). The T1w/T2w ratio increase was found in the cerebellar and left putamen GM (6.6 and 24.9% variation), while a significant T1w/T2w ratio decrease was detected in SN in the entire MSA group (31% variation). We found a more progressive atrophy of the cerebellum in MSA-C with a similar progression of putaminal atrophy in the two variants. T1w/T2w ratio can be further studied as a potential marker of disease progression, possibly reflecting decreased neuronal density or iron accumulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Ponticorvo
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
- *Correspondence: Sara Ponticorvo ;
| | - Renzo Manara
- Neuroradiology Unit, Department of Neurosciences, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Maria Claudia Russillo
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Valentina Andreozzi
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Forino
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Roberto Erro
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Marina Picillo
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Marianna Amboni
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Sofia Cuoco
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | | | - Francesco Di Salle
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Paolo Barone
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Esposito
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
| | - Maria Teresa Pellecchia
- Neuroscience Section, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry, Scuola Medica Salernitana, University of Salerno, Salerno, Italy
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12
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Pasquini J, Firbank MJ, Ceravolo R, Silani V, Pavese N. Diffusion Magnetic Resonance Imaging Microstructural Abnormalities in Multiple System Atrophy: A Comprehensive Review. Mov Disord 2022; 37:1963-1984. [PMID: 36036378 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 07/22/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by autonomic failure, ataxia, and/or parkinsonism. Its prominent pathological alterations can be investigated using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI), a technique that exploits the characteristics of water random motion inside brain tissue. The aim of this report was to review currently available literature on the application of dMRI in MSA and to describe microstructural abnormalities, diagnostic applications, and pathophysiological correlates. Sixty-four published studies involving microstructural investigation using dMRI in MSA were included. Widespread microstructural abnormalities of white matter were described, especially in the middle cerebellar peduncle, corticospinal tract, and hemispheric fibers. Gray matter degeneration was identified as well, with diffuse involvement of subcortical structures, especially in the putamina. Diagnostic applications of dMRI were mostly explored for the differential diagnosis between MSA parkinsonism and Parkinson's disease. Recently, machine learning algorithms for image processing and disease classification have demonstrated high diagnostic accuracy, showing potential for translation into clinical practice. To a lesser extent, clinical correlates of microstructural abnormalities have also been investigated, and abnormalities related to motor, ocular, and cognitive impairments were described. dMRI in MSA has contributed to in vivo identification of known pathological abnormalities. Translation into clinical practice of the latest advancements for the differential diagnosis between MSA and other forms of parkinsonism seems feasible. Current limitations involve the possibility of correctly diagnosing MSA in the very early stages, when the clinical diagnosis is most uncertain. Furthermore, pathophysiological correlates of microstructural abnormalities remain understudied. © 2022 The Authors. Movement Disorders published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacopo Pasquini
- Clinical Ageing Research Unit, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.,Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Michael J Firbank
- Positron Emission Tomography Centre, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Roberto Ceravolo
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Neurodegenerative Diseases Center, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Pisana, Pisa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Silani
- Department of Neurology and Laboratory of Neuroscience, Istituto Auxologico Italiano IRCCS, Milan, Italy.,Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Dino Ferrari Center, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Nicola Pavese
- Clinical Ageing Research Unit, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.,Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET Centre, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
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Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by neuronal loss and gliosis in multiple areas of the central nervous system including striatonigral, olivopontocerebellar and central autonomic structures. Oligodendroglial cytoplasmic inclusions containing misfolded and aggregated α-synuclein are the histopathological hallmark of MSA. A firm clinical diagnosis requires the presence of autonomic dysfunction in combination with parkinsonism that responds poorly to levodopa and/or cerebellar ataxia. Clinical diagnostic accuracy is suboptimal in early disease because of phenotypic overlaps with Parkinson disease or other types of degenerative parkinsonism as well as with other cerebellar disorders. The symptomatic management of MSA requires a complex multimodal approach to compensate for autonomic failure, alleviate parkinsonism and cerebellar ataxia and associated disabilities. None of the available treatments significantly slows the aggressive course of MSA. Despite several failed trials in the past, a robust pipeline of putative disease-modifying agents, along with progress towards early diagnosis and the development of sensitive diagnostic and progression biomarkers for MSA, offer new hope for patients.
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Advanced brain aging in multiple system atrophy compared to Parkinson's disease. Neuroimage Clin 2022; 34:102997. [PMID: 35397330 PMCID: PMC8987993 DOI: 10.1016/j.nicl.2022.102997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2021] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
MSA, but not PD, exhibits advanced brain aging in gray matter and white matter. Brain age of gray matter is correlated with that of white matter in PD. Brain age measures can partly reveal associations with symptom severity. Brain features underlying brain age difference between MSA and PD are identified.
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) belong to alpha-synucleinopathy, but they have very different clinical courses and prognoses. An imaging biomarker that can differentiate between the two diseases early in the disease course is desirable for appropriate treatment. Neuroimaging-based brain age paradigm provides an individualized marker to differentiate aberrant brain aging patterns in neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, patients with MSA (N = 23), PD (N = 33), and healthy controls (N = 34; HC) were recruited. A deep learning approach was used to estimate brain-predicted age difference (PAD) of gray matter (GM) and white matter (WM) based on image features extracted from T1-weighted and diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance images, respectively. Spatial normative models of image features were utilized to quantify neuroanatomical impairments in patients, which were then used to estimate the contributions of image features to brain age measures. For PAD of GM (GM-PAD), patients with MSA had significantly older brain age (9.33 years) than those with PD (0.75 years; P = 0.002) and HC (-1.47 years; P < 0.001), and no significant difference was found between PD and HC (P = 1.000). For PAD of WM (WM-PAD), it was significantly greater in MSA (9.27 years) than that in PD (1.90 years; P = 0.037) and HC (-0.74 years; P < 0.001); there was no significant difference between PD and HC (P = 0.087). The most salient image features that contributed to PAD in MSA and PD were different. For GM, they were the orbitofrontal regions and the cuneus in MSA and PD, respectively, and for WM, they were the central corpus callosum and the uncinate fasciculus in MSA and PD, respectively. Our results demonstrated that MSA revealed significantly greater PAD than PD, which might be related to markedly different neuroanatomical contributions to brain aging. The image features with distinct contributions to brain aging might be of value in the differential diagnosis of MSA and PD.
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Heterogeneity of Multiple System Atrophy: An Update. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030599. [PMID: 35327402 PMCID: PMC8945102 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a fatal, rapidly progressing neurodegenerative disease of uncertain etiology, clinically characterized by various combinations of Levodopa unresponsive parkinsonism, cerebellar, autonomic and motor dysfunctions. The morphological hallmark of this α-synucleinopathy is the deposition of aberrant α-synuclein in both glia, mainly oligodendroglia (glial cytoplasmic inclusions /GCIs/) and neurons, associated with glioneuronal degeneration of the striatonigral, olivopontocerebellar and many other neuronal systems. Typical phenotypes are MSA with predominant parkinsonism (MSA-P) and a cerebellar variant (MSA-C) with olivocerebellar atrophy. However, MSA can present with a wider range of clinical and pathological features than previously thought. In addition to rare combined or “mixed” MSA, there is a broad spectrum of atypical MSA variants, such as those with a different age at onset and disease duration, “minimal change” or prodromal forms, MSA variants with Lewy body disease or severe hippocampal pathology, rare forms with an unusual tau pathology or spinal myoclonus, an increasing number of MSA cases with cognitive impairment/dementia, rare familial forms, and questionable conjugal MSA. These variants that do not fit into the current classification of MSA are a major challenge for the diagnosis of this unique proteinopathy. Although the clinical diagnostic accuracy and differential diagnosis of MSA have improved by using combined biomarkers, its distinction from clinically similar extrapyramidal disorders with other pathologies and etiologies may be difficult. These aspects should be taken into consideration when revising the current diagnostic criteria. This appears important given that disease-modifying treatment strategies for this hitherto incurable disorder are under investigation.
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