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Vogt L, Quiroz V, Ebrahimi-Fakhari D. Emerging therapies for childhood-onset movement disorders. Curr Opin Pediatr 2024; 36:331-341. [PMID: 38655812 PMCID: PMC11047116 DOI: 10.1097/mop.0000000000001354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We highlight novel and emerging therapies in the treatment of childhood-onset movement disorders. We structured this review by therapeutic entity (small molecule drugs, RNA-targeted therapeutics, gene replacement therapy, and neuromodulation), recognizing that there are two main approaches to treatment: symptomatic (based on phenomenology) and molecular mechanism-based therapy or 'precision medicine' (which is disease-modifying). RECENT FINDINGS We highlight reports of new small molecule drugs for Tourette syndrome, Friedreich's ataxia and Rett syndrome. We also discuss developments in gene therapy for aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase deficiency and hereditary spastic paraplegia, as well as current work exploring optimization of deep brain stimulation and lesioning with focused ultrasound. SUMMARY Childhood-onset movement disorders have traditionally been treated symptomatically based on phenomenology, but focus has recently shifted toward targeted molecular mechanism-based therapeutics. The development of precision therapies is driven by increasing capabilities for genetic testing and a better delineation of the underlying disease mechanisms. We highlight novel and exciting approaches to the treatment of genetic childhood-onset movement disorders while also discussing general challenges in therapy development for rare diseases. We provide a framework for molecular mechanism-based treatment approaches, a summary of specific treatments for various movement disorders, and a clinical trial readiness framework.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey Vogt
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto Ontario, Canada
| | - Vicente Quiroz
- Movement Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Darius Ebrahimi-Fakhari
- Movement Disorders Program, Department of Neurology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Sarva H, Rodriguez-Porcel F, Rivera F, Gonzalez CD, Barkan S, Tripathi S, Gatto E, Ruiz PG. The role of genetics in the treatment of dystonia with deep brain stimulation: Systematic review and Meta-analysis. J Neurol Sci 2024; 459:122970. [PMID: 38520940 DOI: 10.1016/j.jns.2024.122970] [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: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by sustained or intermittent muscle contractions that lead to involuntary postures or repetitive movements. Genetic mutations are being increasingly recognized as a cause of dystonia. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is one of the limited treatment options available. However, there are varying reports on its efficacy in genetic dystonias. This systematic review of the characteristics of genetic dystonias treated with DBS and their outcomes aims to aid in the evaluation of eligibility for such treatment. METHODS We performed a PUBMED search of all papers related to genetic dystonias and DBS up until April 2022. In addition to performing a systematic review, we also performed a meta-analysis to assess the role of the mutation on DBS response. We included cases that had a confirmed genetic mutation and DBS along with pre-and post-operative BFMDRS. RESULTS Ninety-one reports met our inclusion criteria and from them, 235 cases were analyzed. Based on our analysis DYT-TOR1A dystonia had the best evidence for DBS response and Rapid-Onset Dystonia Parkinsonism was among the least responsive to DBS. CONCLUSION While our report supports the role of genetics in DBS selection and response, it is limited by the rarity of the individual genetic conditions, the reliance on case reports and case series, and the limited ability to obtain genetic testing on a large scale in real-time as opposed to retrospectively as in many cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harini Sarva
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 428 E72nd Street, Suite 400, NY, NY 10021, USA.
| | | | - Francisco Rivera
- CEMIC University Institute, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Claudio Daniel Gonzalez
- CEMIC University Institute, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Samantha Barkan
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 428 E72nd Street, Suite 400, NY, NY 10021, USA
| | - Susmit Tripathi
- Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Institute, Weill Cornell Medicine, 428 E72nd Street, Suite 400, NY, NY 10021, USA
| | - Emilia Gatto
- Instituto de Neurociencias Buenos Aires, INEBA, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Pedro Garcia Ruiz
- Movement Disorders Unit, Department of Neurology, Fundacion Jimenez Diaz, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
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Calakos N, Caffall ZF. The integrated stress response pathway and neuromodulator signaling in the brain: lessons learned from dystonia. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e177833. [PMID: 38557486 PMCID: PMC10977992 DOI: 10.1172/jci177833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The integrated stress response (ISR) is a highly conserved biochemical pathway involved in maintaining proteostasis and cell health in the face of diverse stressors. In this Review, we discuss a relatively noncanonical role for the ISR in neuromodulatory neurons and its implications for synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. Beyond its roles in stress response, the ISR has been extensively studied in the brain, where it potently influences learning and memory, and in the process of synaptic plasticity, which is a substrate for adaptive behavior. Recent findings demonstrate that some neuromodulatory neuron types engage the ISR in an "always-on" mode, rather than the more canonical "on-demand" response to transient perturbations. Atypical demand for the ISR in neuromodulatory neurons introduces an additional mechanism to consider when investigating ISR effects on synaptic plasticity, learning, and memory. This basic science discovery emerged from a consideration of how the ISR might be contributing to human disease. To highlight how, in scientific discovery, the route from starting point to outcomes can often be circuitous and full of surprise, we begin by describing our group's initial introduction to the ISR, which arose from a desire to understand causes for a rare movement disorder, dystonia. Ultimately, the unexpected connection led to a deeper understanding of its fundamental role in the biology of neuromodulatory neurons, learning, and memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Calakos
- Department of Neurology
- Department of Neurobiology, and
- Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) Collaborative Research Network, Chevy Chase, Maryland, USA
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Thomsen M, Lange LM, Klein C, Lohmann K. MDSGene: Extending the List of Isolated Dystonia Genes by VPS16, EIF2AK2, and AOPEP. Mov Disord 2023; 38:507-508. [PMID: 36670070 DOI: 10.1002/mds.29327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mirja Thomsen
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Lara M Lange
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Christine Klein
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Katja Lohmann
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
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Macintosh J, Thiffault I, Pastinen T, Sztriha L, Bernard G. A Recurrent De Novo Variant in EIF2AK2 Causes a Hypomyelinating Leukodystrophy. Child Neurol Open 2023; 10:2329048X231176673. [PMID: 37284702 PMCID: PMC10240855 DOI: 10.1177/2329048x231176673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
De novo pathogenic variants in EIF2AK2 have recently been reported as a novel genetic cause of leukoencephalopathy. Here, we describe a male individual who presented in the first year of life with clinical features resembling Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease (PMD), including nystagmus, hypotonia, and global developmental delay, and which later progressed to include ataxia and spasticity. Brain MRI at the age of two revealed diffuse hypomyelination. This report adds to the limited number of individuals published and further reinforces de novo variants in EIF2AK2 as a molecular cause of a leukodystrophy that clinically and radiologically resembles PMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Macintosh
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Child Health and Human Development Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Isabelle Thiffault
- Genomic Medicine Center, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA
- University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Tomi Pastinen
- Genomic Medicine Center, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA
- University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - László Sztriha
- Department of Pediatrics Szent-Györgyi Albert Medical Center, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Geneviève Bernard
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Child Health and Human Development Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department Specialized Medicine, Division of Medical Genetics, McGill University Health Center, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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Frederick K, Patel RC. Luteolin protects DYT- PRKRA cells from apoptosis by suppressing PKR activation. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1118725. [PMID: 36874028 PMCID: PMC9974672 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1118725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
DYT-PRKRA is a movement disorder caused by mutations in the PRKRA gene, which encodes for PACT, the protein activator of interferon-induced, double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-activated protein kinase PKR. PACT brings about PKR's catalytic activation by a direct binding in response to stress signals and activated PKR phosphorylates the translation initiation factor eIF2α. Phosphorylation of eIF2α is the central regulatory event that is part of the integrated stress response (ISR), an evolutionarily conserved intracellular signaling network essential for adapting to environmental stresses to maintain healthy cells. A dysregulation of either the level or the duration of eIF2α phosphorylation in response to stress signals causes the normally pro-survival ISR to become pro-apoptotic. Our research has established that the PRKRA mutations reported to cause DYT-PRKRA lead to enhanced PACT-PKR interactions causing a dysregulation of ISR and an increased sensitivity to apoptosis. We have previously identified luteolin, a plant flavonoid, as an inhibitor of the PACT-PKR interaction using high-throughput screening of chemical libraries. Our results presented in this study indicate that luteolin is markedly effective in disrupting the pathological PACT-PKR interactions to protect DYT-PRKRA cells against apoptosis, thus suggesting a therapeutic option for using luteolin to treat DYT-PRKRA and possibly other diseases resulting from enhanced PACT-PKR interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth Frederick
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
| | - Rekha C Patel
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, United States
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Kamble VS, Pachpor TA, Khandagale SB, Wagh VV, Khare SP. Translation initiation and dysregulation of initiation factors in rare diseases. GENE REPORTS 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.genrep.2022.101738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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Di Fonzo A, Albanese A, Jinnah HH. The apparent paradox of phenotypic diversity and shared mechanisms across dystonia syndromes. Curr Opin Neurol 2022; 35:502-509. [PMID: 35856917 PMCID: PMC9309988 DOI: 10.1097/wco.0000000000001076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW We describe here how such mechanisms shared by different genetic forms can give rise to motor performance dysfunctions with a clinical aspect of dystonia. RECENT FINDINGS The continuing discoveries of genetic causes for dystonia syndromes are transforming our view of these disorders. They share unexpectedly common underlying mechanisms, including dysregulation in neurotransmitter signaling, gene transcription, and quality control machinery. The field has further expanded to include forms recently associated with endolysosomal dysfunction. SUMMARY The discovery of biological pathways shared between different monogenic dystonias is an important conceptual advance in the understanding of the underlying mechanisms, with a significant impact on the pathophysiological understanding of clinical phenomenology. The functional relationship between dystonia genes could revolutionize current dystonia classification systems, classifying patients with different monogenic forms based on common pathways. The most promising effect of these advances is on future mechanism-based therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Di Fonzo
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Dino Ferrari Center, Neurology Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Alberto Albanese
- Department of Neurology, IRCCS Humanitas Research Hospital, Rozzano, Milano, Italy
| | - Hyder H. Jinnah
- Departments of Neurology, Human Genetics, and Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta GA, 30322, USA
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Classification of Dystonia. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12020206. [PMID: 35207493 PMCID: PMC8875209 DOI: 10.3390/life12020206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Dystonia is a hyperkinetic movement disorder characterized by abnormal movement or posture caused by excessive muscle contraction. Because of its wide clinical spectrum, dystonia is often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. In clinical practice, dystonia could often present in association with other movement disorders. An accurate physical examination is essential to describe the correct phenomenology. To help clinicians reaching the proper diagnosis, several classifications of dystonia have been proposed. The current classification consists of axis I, clinical characteristics, and axis II, etiology. Through the application of this classification system, movement disorder specialists could attempt to correctly characterize dystonia and guide patients to the most effective treatment. The aim of this article is to describe the phenomenological spectrum of dystonia, the last approved dystonia classification, and new emerging knowledge.
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