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Clinical Characterization of Atypical Primary Progressive Aphasia in a 3-Year Longitudinal Study: A Case Report. Cogn Behav Neurol 2021; 34:233-244. [PMID: 34473676 DOI: 10.1097/wnn.0000000000000273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA) is the most recent variant of primary progressive aphasia (PPA) to be identified; thus far, it has been poorly investigated. Despite being typically associated with Alzheimer disease (AD), lvPPA has recently been linked to frontotemporal lobe degeneration (FTLD), with distinctive cognitive and neural features that are worthy of further investigation. Here, we describe the neuropsychological and linguistic profile, as well as cerebral abnormalities, of an individual exhibiting PPA and carrying a pathogenetic variant in the GRN gene, from a 3-year longitudinal perspective. The individual's initial profile resembled lvPPA because it was characterized by word-finding difficulties and phonological errors in spontaneous speech in addition to sentence repetition and phonological short-term memory impairments. The individual's structural and metabolic imaging data demonstrated left temporal and bilateral frontal atrophy and hypometabolism, respectively. On follow-up, as the pathology progressed, dysprosody, stereotypical speech patterns, agrammatism, and orofacial apraxia appeared, suggesting an overlap with the nonfluent variant of PPA (nfvPPA). Severe sentence comprehension impairment also became evident. Our longitudinal and multidisciplinary diagnostic approach allowed us to better characterize the progression of a GRN-positive lvPPA profile, providing neuropsychological and imaging indicators that might be helpful to improve classification between different PPA variants and to address a nosological issue. Finally, we discuss the importance of early diagnosis of PPA given the possible overlap between different PPA variants during the progression of the pathology.
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Mega A, Galluzzi S, Bonvicini C, Fostinelli S, Gennarelli M, Geroldi C, Zanetti O, Benussi L, Di Maria E, Frisoni GB. Genetic counselling and testing for inherited dementia: single-centre evaluation of the consensus Italian DIAfN protocol. ALZHEIMERS RESEARCH & THERAPY 2020; 12:152. [PMID: 33203472 PMCID: PMC7670800 DOI: 10.1186/s13195-020-00720-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Background A consensus protocol for genetic counselling and testing of familial dementia, the Italian Dominantly Inherited Alzheimer’s and Frontotemporal Network (IT-DIAfN) protocol, has been developed in Italy by a network of expert dementia centres. The aim of this study is to evaluate feasibility and acceptability of the genetic counselling and testing process, as undertaken according to the IT-DIAfN protocol in one of the IT-DIAfN dementia research centres. Methods The protocol was tested by a multidisciplinary team at the IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy, on affected individuals with suspected inherited forms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or frontotemporal dementia (FTD), and to healthy at-risk relatives. The genetic counselling and testing process consisted of (i) pre-test consultation and psychological assessment (ii) genetic testing, (iii) genetic test result disclosure and (iv) follow-up consultation and psychological assessment. Results Twenty affected individuals from 17 families fulfilled the family history criteria of the IT-DIAfN protocol for suspected inherited dementia (17 for AD, 2 for FTD, 1 for inclusion body myopathy with Paget disease of bone and frontotemporal dementia) and were included in the protocol. Nineteen out of 20 affected individuals received the genetic test result (one left after the pre-test consultation being not ready to cope with an unfavourable outcome). A pathogenic mutation was found in 6 affected individuals (1 in PSEN1, 2 in PSEN2, 1 in GRN, 1 in MAPT, 1 in VCP). Eleven healthy at-risk relatives asked to undergo predictive testing and were included in the protocol. Three completed the protocol, including follow-up; one did not ask for the genetic test result after genetic testing; and eight withdrew before the genetic testing, mainly due to an increased awareness about the possible consequences of an unfavourable test result. To date, no catastrophic reactions were reported at the follow-up. Conclusions Our case series shows that a structured genetic counselling and testing protocol for inherited dementia can be implemented in both affected individuals and at-risk relatives in a research setting. The procedure was shown to be safe in terms of occurrence of catastrophic events. A formal validation in larger cohorts is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Mega
- Laboratory Alzheimer's Neuroimaging & Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Samantha Galluzzi
- Laboratory Alzheimer's Neuroimaging & Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cristian Bonvicini
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvia Fostinelli
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Massimo Gennarelli
- Genetics Unit, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.,Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Cristina Geroldi
- Alzheimer's Unit - Memory Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Orazio Zanetti
- Alzheimer's Unit - Memory Clinic, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Luisa Benussi
- Molecular Markers Laboratory, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Emilio Di Maria
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy. .,Unit of Medical Genetics, Galliera Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
| | - Giovanni B Frisoni
- Laboratory Alzheimer's Neuroimaging & Epidemiology, IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy.,University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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3
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Premi E, Calhoun VD, Diano M, Gazzina S, Cosseddu M, Alberici A, Archetti S, Paternicò D, Gasparotti R, van Swieten J, Galimberti D, Sanchez-Valle R, Laforce R, Moreno F, Synofzik M, Graff C, Masellis M, Tartaglia MC, Rowe J, Vandenberghe R, Finger E, Tagliavini F, de Mendonça A, Santana I, Butler C, Ducharme S, Gerhard A, Danek A, Levin J, Otto M, Frisoni G, Cappa S, Sorbi S, Padovani A, Rohrer JD, Borroni B. The inner fluctuations of the brain in presymptomatic Frontotemporal Dementia: The chronnectome fingerprint. Neuroimage 2019; 189:645-654. [PMID: 30716457 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2019.01.080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2018] [Revised: 01/27/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal Dementia (FTD) is preceded by a long period of subtle brain changes, occurring in the absence of overt cognitive symptoms, that need to be still fully characterized. Dynamic network analysis based on resting-state magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI) is a potentially powerful tool for the study of preclinical FTD. In the present study, we employed a "chronnectome" approach (recurring, time-varying patterns of connectivity) to evaluate measures of dynamic connectivity in 472 at-risk FTD subjects from the Genetic Frontotemporal dementia research Initiative (GENFI) cohort. We considered 249 subjects with FTD-related pathogenetic mutations and 223 mutation non-carriers (HC). Dynamic connectivity was evaluated using independent component analysis and sliding-time window correlation to rs-fMRI data, and meta-state measures of global brain flexibility were extracted. Results show that presymptomatic FTD exhibits diminished dynamic fluidity, visiting less meta-states, shifting less often across them, and travelling through a narrowed meta-state distance, as compared to HC. Dynamic connectivity changes characterize preclinical FTD, arguing for the desynchronization of the inner fluctuations of the brain. These changes antedate clinical symptoms, and might represent an early signature of FTD to be used as a biomarker in clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Premi
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy; Stroke Unit, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale Spedali Civili, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Vince D Calhoun
- The Mind Research Network, Albuquerque, USA; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, USA
| | - Matteo Diano
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy; Department of Medical and Clinical Psychology, CoRPS - Center of Research on Psychology in Somatic Diseases, Tilburg University, the Netherlands
| | - Stefano Gazzina
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Maura Cosseddu
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Antonella Alberici
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Silvana Archetti
- Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Diagnostic, Spedali Civili Hospital, Brescia, Italy
| | - Donata Paternicò
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - John van Swieten
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Daniela Galimberti
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, "Dino Ferrari" Center, University of Milan, Fondazione Cà Granda, IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
| | - Raquel Sanchez-Valle
- Neurology Department, Hospital Clinic, Institut d'Investigacions Biomèdiques, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Robert Laforce
- Clinique Interdisciplinaire de Mémoire, Département des Sciences Neurologiques, CHU de Québec, Faculté de Médecine, Université Laval, QC, Canada
| | - Fermin Moreno
- Department of Neurology, Hospital Universitario Donostia, San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa, Spain
| | - Matthis Synofzik
- Department of Cognitive Neurology, Center for Neurology, Hertie-Institute for Clinical Brain Research, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Caroline Graff
- Karolinska Institutet, Department NVS, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogenetics, Sweden
| | - Mario Masellis
- LC Campbell Cognitive Neurology Research Unit, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maria Carmela Tartaglia
- Toronto Western Hospital, Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - James Rowe
- Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Rik Vandenberghe
- Laboratory for Cognitive Neurology, Department of Neurosciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elizabeth Finger
- Department of Clinical Neurological Sciences, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada
| | - Fabrizio Tagliavini
- Fondazione Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Isabel Santana
- Neurology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Chris Butler
- Department of Clinical Neurology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Simon Ducharme
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Alex Gerhard
- Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, The University of Manchester, Withington, Manchester, UK
| | - Adrian Danek
- Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Levin
- Neurologische Klinik und Poliklinik, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Markus Otto
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Giovanni Frisoni
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy; Memory Clinic and LANVIE-Laboratory of Neuroimaging of Aging, University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Stefano Cappa
- Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS), Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli, Brescia, Italy
| | - Sandro Sorbi
- Department of Neuroscience, Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, University of Florence, Florence, Italy; Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) "Don Gnocchi", Florence, Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | | | - Barbara Borroni
- Centre for Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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Coppola C, Saracino D, Puoti G, Lus G, Dato C, Le Ber I, Pariente J, Caroppo P, Piccoli E, Tagliavini F, Di Iorio G, Rossi G. A cluster of progranulin C157KfsX97 mutations in Southern Italy: clinical characterization and genetic correlations. Neurobiol Aging 2016; 49:219.e5-219.e13. [PMID: 27814992 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2016.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2016] [Accepted: 10/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a group of neurodegenerative diseases displaying high clinical, pathologic, and genetic heterogeneity. Several autosomal dominant progranulin (GRN) mutations have been reported, accounting for 5%-10% of FTLD cases worldwide. In this study, we described the clinical characteristics of 7 Italian patients, 5 with a diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia behavioral variant and 2 of corticobasal syndrome (CBS), carrying the GRN deletion g.101349_101355delCTGCTGT, resulting in the C157KfsX97 null mutation, and hypothesized the existence of a founder effect by means of haplotype sharing analysis. We performed plasma progranulin dosage, GRN gene sequencing, and haplotype sharing study, analyzing 10 short tandem repeat markers, spanning a region of 11.08 Mb flanking GRN on chromosome 17q21. We observed shared alleles among 6 patients for 8 consecutive short tandem repeat markers spanning a 7.29 Mb region. Therefore, also with this particular mutation, the elevated clinical variability described among GRN-mutated FTLD cases is confirmed. Moreover, this is the first study reporting the likely existence of a founder effect for C157KfsX97 mutation in Southern Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Coppola
- Second Division of Neurology, Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
| | - Dario Saracino
- Second Division of Neurology, Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianfranco Puoti
- Second Division of Neurology, Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giacomo Lus
- Second Division of Neurology, Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Clemente Dato
- Second Division of Neurology, Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Isabelle Le Ber
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière (ICM), INSERM U1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Universités, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Univ Paris 06, UPMC-P6 UMR S 1127 Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France; AP-HP, Hôpital de la Pitié-Salpêtrière, Centre de Référence des Démences Rares & Fédération des maladies du système nerveux, Paris, France
| | | | - Paola Caroppo
- Division of Neurology V-Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Piccoli
- Division of Neurology V-Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Fabrizio Tagliavini
- Division of Neurology V-Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Di Iorio
- Second Division of Neurology, Department of Medical, Surgical, Neurological, Metabolic and Aging Sciences, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy
| | - Giacomina Rossi
- Division of Neurology V-Neuropathology, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Neurologico Carlo Besta, Milan, Italy
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5
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Taghdiri F, Sato C, Ghani M, Moreno D, Rogaeva E, Tartaglia MC. Novel GRN Mutations in Patients with Corticobasal Syndrome. Sci Rep 2016; 6:22913. [PMID: 26961809 PMCID: PMC4785496 DOI: 10.1038/srep22913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss-of-function GRN mutations lead to GRN haploinsufficiency and consequently neurodegeneration with significant heterogeneity in clinical presentation of various syndromes. The aim of this study was to investigate the genetics and clinical features of patients with GRN-related frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) syndromes. We performed mutation analysis of GRN in 45 unrelated Canadian patients with a broad spectrum of FTLD-like syndromes (mean age at onset of 64.0 ± 11.2 years). In our cohort, two patients were carriers of two novel heterozygous alterations in GRN: 2 bp insertion (c.769-770insCC:p.Q257fs) and 12 bp deletion (c.1009-1020del:p.337-340del). Both patients presented with corticobasal syndrome supported by clinical and radiological findings. The absence of the mutant allele in the RT-PCR product was only observed for the sample with 2 bp insertion in GRN. In contrast, the allele with 12 bp deletion in GRN was not down-regulated at the RNA level and did not segregate with FTLD in the family. Our report extends the evidence for genetic and phenotypic variability in FTLD disorders, and detects a novel pathogenic GRN mutation, carriers of which could eventually help to evaluate the efficacy of different treatments at early stages of dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Foad Taghdiri
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Christine Sato
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Mahdi Ghani
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Danielle Moreno
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
| | - Ekaterina Rogaeva
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada.,Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Toronto, 1 King's College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Maria Carmela Tartaglia
- Tanz Centre for Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toronto, 60 Leonard avenue, Toronto, ON M5T 2S8, Canada.,Devision of Neurology, University Health Network memory clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, 399 Bathurst street, ON M5T 2S8, Canada
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6
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McCarthy A, Lonergan R, Olszewska DA, O'Dowd S, Cummins G, Magennis B, Fallon EM, Pender N, Huey ED, Cosentino S, O'Rourke K, Kelly BD, O'Connell M, Delon I, Farrell M, Spillantini MG, Rowland LP, Fahn S, Craig P, Hutton M, Lynch T. Closing the tau loop: the missing tau mutation. Brain 2015; 138:3100-9. [PMID: 26297556 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awv234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2015] [Accepted: 06/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration comprises a group of disorders characterized by behavioural, executive, language impairment and sometimes features of parkinsonism and motor neuron disease. In 1994 we described an Irish-American family with frontotemporal dementia linked to chromosome 17 associated with extensive tau pathology. We named this disinhibition-dementia-parkinsonism-amyotrophy complex. We subsequently identified mutations in the MAPT gene. Eleven MAPT gene splice site stem loop mutations were identified over time except for 5' splice site of exon 10. We recently identified another Irish family with autosomal dominant early amnesia and behavioural change or parkinsonism associated with the 'missing' +15 mutation at the intronic boundary of exon 10. We performed a clinical, neuropsychological and neuroimaging study on the proband and four siblings, including two affected siblings. We sequenced MAPT and performed segregation analysis. We looked for a biological effect of the tau variant by performing real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis of RNA extracted from human embryonic kidney cells transfected with exon trapping constructs. We found a c.915+15A>C exon 10/intron 10 stem loop mutation in all affected subjects but not in the unaffected. The c.915+15A>C variant caused a shift in tau splicing pattern to a predominantly exon 10+ pattern presumably resulting in predominant 4 repeat tau and little 3 repeat tau. This strongly suggests that the c.915+15A>C variant is a mutation and that it causes frontotemporal dementia linked to chromosome 17 in this pedigree by shifting tau transcription and translation to +4 repeat tau. Tau (MAPT) screening should be considered in families where amnesia or atypical parkinsonism coexists with behavioural disturbance early in the disease process. We describe the final missing stem loop tau mutation predicted 15 years ago. Mutations have now been identified at all predicted sites within the 'stem' when the stem-loop model was first proposed and no mutations have been found within the 'loop' region as expected. Therefore we 'close the tau loop' having 'opened the loop' 21 years ago.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allan McCarthy
- 1 The Dublin Neurological Institute at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, 57 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland
| | - Roisin Lonergan
- 1 The Dublin Neurological Institute at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, 57 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland
| | - Diana A Olszewska
- 1 The Dublin Neurological Institute at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, 57 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland
| | - Sean O'Dowd
- 1 The Dublin Neurological Institute at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, 57 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland
| | - Gemma Cummins
- 2 Department of Clinical Neuroscience, Centre for Brain Repair, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0PY, UK
| | - Brian Magennis
- 1 The Dublin Neurological Institute at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, 57 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland
| | - Emer M Fallon
- 1 The Dublin Neurological Institute at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, 57 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland
| | - Niall Pender
- 3 Department of Psychology, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Rd, Dublin 9, Ireland, Department of Psychology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
| | - Edward D Huey
- 4 Departments of Psychiatry and Neurology, College of Physicians and Surgeons, University Medical Centre, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Stephanie Cosentino
- 5 Cognitive Neuroscience Section, Department of Neurology, Columbia University Medical Centre, 630 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Killian O'Rourke
- 1 The Dublin Neurological Institute at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, 57 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland
| | - Brendan D Kelly
- 6 Department of Psychiatry, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, 63 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland
| | - Martin O'Connell
- 7 Department of Radiology, Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, North Circular Road, Dublin 7, Ireland
| | - Isabelle Delon
- 8 Medical Genetics Service, Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Addenbrooke's Treatment Centre, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Michael Farrell
- 9 Department of Neuropathology, Beaumont Hospital, Beaumont Road, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Maria Grazia Spillantini
- 10 Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Clifford Allbutt Building, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 0AH, UK
| | - Lewis P Rowland
- 11 The Neurological Institute, Columbia University, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032-3784, USA
| | - Stanley Fahn
- 11 The Neurological Institute, Columbia University, 710 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032-3784, USA
| | - Peter Craig
- 12 Eli Lilly, Erl Wood Manor, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6PH, UK
| | - Michael Hutton
- 12 Eli Lilly, Erl Wood Manor, Windlesham, Surrey, GU20 6PH, UK
| | - Tim Lynch
- 1 The Dublin Neurological Institute at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, 57 Eccles Street, Dublin 7, Ireland
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7
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Fontana F, Siva K, Denti MA. A network of RNA and protein interactions in Fronto Temporal Dementia. Front Mol Neurosci 2015; 8:9. [PMID: 25852467 PMCID: PMC4365750 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2015.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2014] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by degeneration of the fronto temporal lobes and abnormal protein inclusions. It exhibits a broad clinicopathological spectrum and has been linked to mutations in seven different genes. We will provide a picture, which connects the products of these genes, albeit diverse in nature and function, in a network. Despite the paucity of information available for some of these genes, we believe that RNA processing and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression might constitute a common theme in the network. Recent studies have unraveled the role of mutations affecting the functions of RNA binding proteins and regulation of microRNAs. This review will combine all the recent findings on genes involved in the pathogenesis of FTD, highlighting the importance of a common network of interactions in order to study and decipher the heterogeneous clinical manifestations associated with FTD. This approach could be helpful for the research of potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Fontana
- Laboratory of RNA Biology and Biotechnology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of TrentoTrento, Italy
| | - Kavitha Siva
- Laboratory of RNA Biology and Biotechnology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of TrentoTrento, Italy
| | - Michela A. Denti
- Laboratory of RNA Biology and Biotechnology, Centre for Integrative Biology, University of TrentoTrento, Italy
- CNR, Institute of NeurosciencePadua, Italy
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8
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Caminsky NG, Mucaki EJ, Rogan PK. Interpretation of mRNA splicing mutations in genetic disease: review of the literature and guidelines for information-theoretical analysis. F1000Res 2015. [DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.5654.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The interpretation of genomic variants has become one of the paramount challenges in the post-genome sequencing era. In this review we summarize nearly 20 years of research on the applications of information theory (IT) to interpret coding and non-coding mutations that alter mRNA splicing in rare and common diseases. We compile and summarize the spectrum of published variants analyzed by IT, to provide a broad perspective of the distribution of deleterious natural and cryptic splice site variants detected, as well as those affecting splicing regulatory sequences. Results for natural splice site mutations can be interrogated dynamically with Splicing Mutation Calculator, a companion software program that computes changes in information content for any splice site substitution, linked to corresponding publications containing these mutations. The accuracy of IT-based analysis was assessed in the context of experimentally validated mutations. Because splice site information quantifies binding affinity, IT-based analyses can discern the differences between variants that account for the observed reduced (leaky) versus abolished mRNA splicing. We extend this principle by comparing predicted mutations in natural, cryptic, and regulatory splice sites with observed deleterious phenotypic and benign effects. Our analysis of 1727 variants revealed a number of general principles useful for ensuring portability of these analyses and accurate input and interpretation of mutations. We offer guidelines for optimal use of IT software for interpretation of mRNA splicing mutations.
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9
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Caminsky N, Mucaki EJ, Rogan PK. Interpretation of mRNA splicing mutations in genetic disease: review of the literature and guidelines for information-theoretical analysis. F1000Res 2014; 3:282. [PMID: 25717368 PMCID: PMC4329672 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.5654.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The interpretation of genomic variants has become one of the paramount challenges in the post-genome sequencing era. In this review we summarize nearly 20 years of research on the applications of information theory (IT) to interpret coding and non-coding mutations that alter mRNA splicing in rare and common diseases. We compile and summarize the spectrum of published variants analyzed by IT, to provide a broad perspective of the distribution of deleterious natural and cryptic splice site variants detected, as well as those affecting splicing regulatory sequences. Results for natural splice site mutations can be interrogated dynamically with Splicing Mutation Calculator, a companion software program that computes changes in information content for any splice site substitution, linked to corresponding publications containing these mutations. The accuracy of IT-based analysis was assessed in the context of experimentally validated mutations. Because splice site information quantifies binding affinity, IT-based analyses can discern the differences between variants that account for the observed reduced (leaky) versus abolished mRNA splicing. We extend this principle by comparing predicted mutations in natural, cryptic, and regulatory splice sites with observed deleterious phenotypic and benign effects. Our analysis of 1727 variants revealed a number of general principles useful for ensuring portability of these analyses and accurate input and interpretation of mutations. We offer guidelines for optimal use of IT software for interpretation of mRNA splicing mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natasha Caminsky
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, N6A 2C1, Canada
| | - Eliseos J Mucaki
- Department of Biochemistry, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, N6A 2C1, Canada
| | - Peter K Rogan
- Departments of Biochemistry and Computer Science, Western University, London, ON, N6A 2C1, Canada
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10
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Premi E, Cauda F, Gasparotti R, Diano M, Archetti S, Padovani A, Borroni B. Multimodal FMRI resting-state functional connectivity in granulin mutations: the case of fronto-parietal dementia. PLoS One 2014; 9:e106500. [PMID: 25188321 PMCID: PMC4154688 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Monogenic dementias represent a great opportunity to trace disease progression from preclinical to symptomatic stages. Frontotemporal Dementia related to Granulin (GRN) mutations presents a specific framework of brain damage, involving fronto-temporal regions and long inter-hemispheric white matter bundles. Multimodal resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI) is a promising tool to carefully describe disease signature from the earliest disease phase. OBJECTIVE To define local connectivity alterations in GRN related pathology moving from the presymptomatic (asymptomatic GRN mutation carriers) to the clinical phase of the disease (GRN- related Frontotemporal Dementia). METHODS Thirty-one GRN Thr272fs mutation carriers (14 patients with Frontotemporal Dementia and 17 asymptomatic carriers) and 38 healthy controls were recruited. Local connectivity measures (Regional Homogeneity (ReHo), Fractional Amplitude of Low Frequency Fluctuation (fALFF) and Degree Centrality (DC)) were computed, considering age and gender as nuisance variables as well as the influence of voxel-level gray matter atrophy. RESULTS Asymptomatic GRN carriers had selective reduced ReHo in the left parietal region and increased ReHo in frontal regions compared to healthy controls. Considering Frontotemporal Dementia patients, all measures (ReHo, fALFF and DC) were reduced in inferior parietal, frontal lobes and posterior cingulate cortex. Considering GRN mutation carriers, an inverse correlation with age in the posterior cingulate cortex, inferior parietal lobule and orbitofrontal cortex was found. CONCLUSIONS GRN pathology is characterized by functional brain network alterations even decades before the clinical onset; they involve the parietal region primarily and then spread to the anterior regions of the brain, supporting the concept of molecular nexopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrico Premi
- Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Franco Cauda
- Clinical and Experimental Center for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Matteo Diano
- Clinical and Experimental Center for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Koelliker Hospital, Turin, Italy
- Department of Psychology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Alessandro Padovani
- Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
- * E-mail:
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11
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Understanding phenotype variability in frontotemporal lobar degeneration due to granulin mutation. Neurobiol Aging 2013; 35:1206-11. [PMID: 24368088 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2013.10.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2013] [Revised: 10/05/2013] [Accepted: 10/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Phenotype in patients with granulin (GRN) mutations is unpredictable, ranging from behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) to agrammatic variant of primary progressive aphasia (avPPA). To date the wide clinical variability of FTLD-GRN remains unexplained. The aim of the study was to identify genetic pathways differentiating phenotypic expression in patients carrying GRN mutations. Patients carrying the same GRNT272SfsX10 mutation were enrolled, a careful clinical assessment was carried out, and the diagnosis of either bvFTD (n = 10, age = 63.9 ± 9.4) or avPPA (n = 6, age = 58.8 ± 4.7) was done. Microarray gene expression analysis on leukocytes was performed. Genes differentially expressed between the groups were validated by real time polymerase chain reaction considering an age-matched healthy controls group (n = 16, age = 58.4 ± 10.7). We further considered a group of FTD with no GRN mutations (GRN-) (n = 21, 13 bvFTD, and 8 avPPA) for comparisons. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed a significant decrease in leukocytes mRNA messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of RAP1GAP in bvFTD patients as compared with avPPA (p = 0.049). This finding was specific for patients with GRN mutations, as we did not observe this pattern in FTD GRN-patients (p = 0.99). The alteration of RAP1GAP mRNA levels may explain the clinical variability of GRN-FTLD patients. This is the first report linking a molecular pathway to specific phenotype expression in FTLD-GRN. To understand the clinical relevance of our early results it will be mandatory to extend the observation to other clinical and neuropathological series.
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12
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Cosseddu M, Alberici A, Pelizzola S, Padovani A, Borroni B. The other face of the coin: the caregiver burden in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry 2013; 28:655-7. [PMID: 23649860 DOI: 10.1002/gps.3892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Maura Cosseddu
- Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit; University of Brescia; Brescia; Italy
| | - Antonella Alberici
- Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit; University of Brescia; Brescia; Italy
| | - Sabrina Pelizzola
- Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit; University of Brescia; Brescia; Italy
| | - Alessandro Padovani
- Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit; University of Brescia; Brescia; Italy
| | - Barbara Borroni
- Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit; University of Brescia; Brescia; Italy
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13
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Milanesi E, Bonvicini C, Alberici A, Pilotto A, Cattane N, Premi E, Gazzina S, Archetti S, Gasparotti R, Cancelli V, Gennarelli M, Padovani A, Borroni B. Molecular signature of disease onset in granulin mutation carriers: a gene expression analysis study. Neurobiol Aging 2013; 34:1837-45. [PMID: 23419701 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2012.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2012] [Revised: 11/09/2012] [Accepted: 11/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Mutations within Granulin (GRN) gene are causative of autosomal dominant frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). Though GRN mutations are inherited at birth, the disease onset usually occurs in the sixth decade of life. The objective of this study was to identify new genetic pathways linked to inherited GRN disease and involved in the shift from asymptomatic to symptomatic stages. Microarray gene expression analysis on leukocytes was carried out on 15 patients carrying GRN T272SfsX10 mutation, and their asymptomatic siblings with (n = 14) or without (n = 11) GRN mutation. The results were then validated by real-time polymerase chain reaction, and compared with those obtained in a cohort of FTLD without GRN mutation (n = 16). The association between candidate genes and damage of specific brain areas was investigated by voxel-based morphometry on magnetic resonance imaging scans (family-wise error-corrected). Leukocytes mRNA levels of TMEM40 and LY6G6F and other genes mainly involved in inflammation were significantly higher in patients carrying GRN mutations compared with asymptomatic carriers and other FTLD. The higher the levels of TMEM40 the greater is the damage of parietal lobule; the higher the LY6G6F gene expression the greater is the atrophy in superior frontal gyrus. Enhanced inflammation associated with the onset of GRN disease might be either related to disease pathogenetic mechanism leading to neurodegeneration or to a compensatory pathway that counteracts disease progression. The identification of specific molecular targets of GRN-FTLD disease is essential when considering future disease-modifying therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Milanesi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
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14
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Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is the second most common type of presenile dementia and is the most common form of dementia with the onset before 60 years of age. Its typical symptoms include behavioral disorders, affective symptoms, and language disorders. The FTD is a genetically and pathologically heterogeneous degenerative disorder. Animal models have provided more insights into the pathogenic mechanisms. There are currently no medications that are specifically approved for the treatment of FTD by the Food and Drug Administration. In this article, we review the recent advances in the molecular pathogenesis, pathology, animal models, and therapy for FTD. Better understanding of the pathogenesis and the use of animal models will help develop novel therapeutic strategies and provide new targets for FTD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinling Wang
- Department of Psychiatry, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Chinese Ministry of Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yuedi Shen
- Center for Cognition and Brain Disorders & The Affiliated Hospital, Hangzhou Normal University School, Hangzhou, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Psychiatry, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Chinese Ministry of Health, Hangzhou, China
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15
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Venturelli E, Villa C, Fenoglio C, Clerici F, Marcone A, Ghidoni R, Cortini F, Scalabrini D, Gallone S, Rainero I, Mandelli A, Restelli I, Binetti G, Cappa S, Mariani C, Giordana MT, Bresolin N, Scarpini E, Galimberti D. The NOS3 G894T (Glu298Asp) polymorphism is a risk factor for frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Eur J Neurol 2012; 16:37-42. [PMID: 19087148 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02335.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS)1 C276T polymorphism was shown to increase the risk for frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). In the brain, both NOS1 and NOS3 (endothelial isoform) have been detected. The distribution of NOS3 G894T (Glu298Asp) and T-786C single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) was analyzed in a population of 222 patients with FTLD compared with 218 age-matched controls to determine whether they could influence the susceptibility to develop the disease. RESULTS A statistically significant increased frequency of the NOS3 G894T SNP was observed in patients as compared with controls (40.0 vs. 31.4%, P = 0.011, OR: 1.65, CI: 1.13-2.42). Conversely, the distribution of the T-786C SNP was similar in patients and controls. No differences were observed stratifying according to gender. DISCUSSION The NOS3 G894T polymorphism likely acts as risk factor for sporadic FTLD, but studies in larger populations are needed to confirm these preliminary findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Venturelli
- Department of Neurological Sciences, 'Dino Ferrari' Center, University of Milan, IRCCS Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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16
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Granulin mutation drives brain damage and reorganization from preclinical to symptomatic FTLD. Neurobiol Aging 2012; 33:2506-20. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.10.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2011] [Revised: 10/23/2011] [Accepted: 10/25/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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17
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Cohn-Hokke PE, Elting MW, Pijnenburg YAL, van Swieten JC. Genetics of dementia: update and guidelines for the clinician. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet 2012; 159B:628-43. [PMID: 22815225 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.b.32080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2011] [Accepted: 06/28/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
With increased frequency, clinical geneticists are asked for genetic advice on the heredity of dementia in families. Alzheimer's disease is in most cases a complex disease, but may be autosomal dominant inherited. Mutations in the PSEN1 gene are the most common genetic cause of early onset Alzheimer's disease, whereas APP and PSEN2 gene mutations are less frequent. Familial frontotemporal dementia may be associated with a mutation in the MAPT or GRN gene, or with a repeat expansion in the C9orf72 gene. All these genes show autosomal dominant inheritance with a high penetrance. Although Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia are clinically distinguishable entities, phenotypical overlap may occur. Rarely, dementia is caused by mutations in other autosomal dominant genes or by genetic defects with autosomal recessive, X-linked dominant or mitochondrial inheritance. The inherited forms of frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease show a large phenotypic variability also within families, resulting in many remaining uncertainties for mutation carriers. Therefore, genetic counseling before performing genetic testing is essential in both symptomatic individuals and healthy at risk relatives. This review provides an overview of the genetic causes of dementia and discusses all aspects relevant for genetic counseling and testing. Furthermore, based on current knowledge, we provide algorithms for genetic testing in patients with early onset Alzheimer's disease or frontotemporal dementia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Petra E Cohn-Hokke
- Department of Clinical Genetics, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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18
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Gass J, Prudencio M, Stetler C, Petrucelli L. Progranulin: an emerging target for FTLD therapies. Brain Res 2012; 1462:118-28. [PMID: 22338605 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2012.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2011] [Revised: 01/13/2012] [Accepted: 01/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), a neurodegenerative disease primarily affecting the frontal and temporal lobes, is one of the most common types of dementia. While the majority of FTLD cases are sporadic, approximately 10-40% of patients have an inherited form of FTLD. Mutations in the progranulin gene (GRN) have recently been identified as a major cause of FTLD with ubiquitin positive inclusions (FTLD-U). Because over 70 disease-linked GRN mutations cause abnormal deficiencies in the production of PGRN, a protein that plays a crucial role in embryogenesis, cell growth and survival, wound repair and inflammation, researchers now aim to design therapies that would increase PGRN levels in affected individuals, thereby alleviating the symptoms associated with disease. Several compounds and genetic factors, as well as PGRN receptors, have recently been identified because of their ability to regulate PGRN levels. Strict quality control measures are needed given that extreme PGRN levels at either end of the spectrum - too low or too high - can lead to neurodegeneration or cancer, respectively. The aim of this review is to highlight what is known regarding PGRN biology; to improve understanding of the mechanisms involved in regulating PGRN levels and highlight studies that are laying the groundwork for the development of effective therapeutic modulators of PGRN. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled RNA-Binding Proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Gass
- Department of Neuroscience, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA
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19
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Premi E, Padovani A, Borroni B. Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2012; 724:114-27. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-0653-2_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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20
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Gilberti N, Turla M, Alberici A, Bertasi V, Civelli P, Archetti S, Padovani A, Borroni B. Prevalence of frontotemporal lobar degeneration in an isolated population: the Vallecamonica study. Neurol Sci 2011; 33:899-904. [DOI: 10.1007/s10072-011-0865-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2011] [Accepted: 11/03/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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21
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Prevalence and Demographic Features of Early-Onset Neurodegenerative Dementia in Brescia County, Italy. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2011; 25:341-4. [DOI: 10.1097/wad.0b013e3182147f80] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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22
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Progranulin Genetic Screening in Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Patients From Central Italy. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2011; 32:13-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s10571-011-9741-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2011] [Accepted: 07/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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23
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Loss of function mutations in the progranulin gene are related to pro-inflammatory cytokine dysregulation in frontotemporal lobar degeneration patients. J Neuroinflammation 2011; 8:65. [PMID: 21645364 PMCID: PMC3141503 DOI: 10.1186/1742-2094-8-65] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2011] [Accepted: 06/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The progranulin gene (PGRN) encodes a pleiotropic molecule with anti-inflammatory actions and neuronal protective effects. Accordingly, PGRN-deficient mice have been demonstrated to develop enhanced inflammation and progressive neurodegeneration. Loss of function mutations of the PGRN gene have been also reported to cause frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD), a neurodegenerative disease leading to dementia generally in the presenium. Since neurodegeneration might be negatively impacted by chronic inflammation, the possible influence of PGRN defects on inflammatory pathways appears to be of great relevance for the understanding of neurodegeneration pathogenic processes in those patients. However, no data about the inflammatory profile of PGRN-defective subjects have been so far provided. In this study, we analyzed serum levels of the pro-inflammatory mediators IL-6, TNF-α and IL-18 in FTLD patients with or without PGRN mutations, at both pre-symptomatic and symptomatic stages. We provide evidence that circulating IL-6 is increased in PGRN-mutated FTLD patients, as compared to both PGRN non-mutated FTLD patients and controls. In contrast, levels of IL-6 were not altered in asymptomatic subjects carrying the PGRN mutations. Finally, TNF-α and IL-18 serum levels did not differ among all groups of included subjects. We conclude that the profile of circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines is altered in PGRN-related symptomatic FTLD. Thus, our findings point to IL-6 as a possible specific mediator and a potential therapeutic target in this monogenic disease, suggesting that an enhanced inflammatory response might be indeed involved in its progression.
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Gabryelewicz T, Masellis M, Berdynski M, Bilbao JM, Rogaeva E, St George-Hyslop P, Barczak A, Czyzewski K, Barcikowska M, Wszolek Z, Black SE, Zekanowski C. Intra-familial clinical heterogeneity due to FTLD-U with TDP-43 proteinopathy caused by a novel deletion in progranulin gene (PGRN). J Alzheimers Dis 2011; 22:1123-33. [PMID: 20930269 DOI: 10.3233/jad-2010-101413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is one of the commonest forms of early-onset dementia, accounting for up to 20% of all dementia patients. Recently, it has been shown that mutations in progranulin gene (PGRN) cause many familial cases of FTD. Members of a family affected by FTD spectrum disorders were ascertained in Poland and Canada. Clinical, radiological, molecular, genetic, and pathological studies were performed. A sequencing analysis of PGRN exons 1-13 was performed in the proband. Genotyping of the identified PGRN mutation and pathological analysis was carried out in the proband's brother. The onset of symptoms of FTD in the proband included bradykinesia, apathy, and somnolence followed by changes in personality, cognitive deficits, and psychotic features. The proband's clinical diagnosis was FTD and parkinsonism (FTDP). DNA sequence analysis of PGRN revealed a novel, heterozygous mutation in exon 11 (g.2988_2989delCA, P439_R440fsX6). The mutation introduced a premature stop codon at position 444. The proband's brother with the same mutation had a different course first presenting as progressive non-fluent aphasia, and later evolving symptoms of behavioral variant of FTD. He also developed parkinsonism late in the disease course evolving into corticobasal syndrome. Pathological analysis in the brother revealed Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration-Ubiquitin (FTLD-U)/TDP-43 positive pathology. The novel PGRN mutation is a disease-causing mutation and is associated with substantial intra-familial clinical heterogeneity. Although presenting features were different, rapid and substantial deterioration in the disease course was observed in both family members.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Gabryelewicz
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disorders, Mossakowski Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
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Tremolizzo L, Bertola F, Casati G, Piperno A, Ferrarese C, Appollonio I. Progressive supranuclear palsy-like phenotype caused by progranulin p.Thr272fs mutation. Mov Disord 2011; 26:1964-6. [PMID: 21542024 DOI: 10.1002/mds.23749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2010] [Revised: 03/11/2011] [Accepted: 03/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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26
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Borroni B, Grassi M, Archetti S, Papetti A, Del Bo R, Bonvicini C, Comi GP, Gennarelli M, Bellelli G, Di Luca M, Padovani A. Genetic background predicts poor prognosis in frontotemporal lobar degeneration. NEURODEGENER DIS 2011; 8:289-95. [PMID: 21311163 DOI: 10.1159/000322790] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2010] [Accepted: 11/15/2010] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ruling out predictors of survival in frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a clinical challenge for defining disease outcomes and monitoring therapeutic interventions. Little is known about determinants of survival in FTLD. OBJECTIVE The aim of the present study was to identify whether genetic determinants are key, not only as risk factors but as predictors of survival in FTLD. METHODS Ninety-seven FTLD patients were considered in the present study. A clinical evaluation and a standardized assessment were carried out. Each patient underwent blood sampling for genetic testing, and mutations within the progranulin (PGRN) gene, microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) haplotype, apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype and 4 vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) polymorphisms were evaluated. Discrete-time survival models were applied. RESULTS Monogenic FTLD due to PGRN mutations [odds ratio (OR) = 3.62, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.12-11.7; p = 0.032], and MAPT *H2 haplotype (OR = 3.23, 95% CI = 1.08-9.69; p = 0.036) were associated with an increased hazard risk of poor outcome. Conversely, APOE genotype, and VEGF polymorphisms were not associated with survival risk in the FTLD sample. CONCLUSIONS Genetic background is not only crucial in disease pathogenesis, but it also modulates disease course. Genetic factors influencing prognosis should be taken into account to include homogeneous groups in future clinical trials and to monitor efficacy of future interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Borroni
- Center for Aging Brain and Dementia, Department of Neurology, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy. bborroni @ inwind.it
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27
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Borroni B, Bonvicini C, Galimberti D, Tremolizzo L, Papetti A, Archetti S, Turla M, Alberici A, Agosti C, Premi E, Appollonio I, Rainero I, Ferrarese C, Gennarelli M, Scarpini E, Padovani A. Founder effect and estimation of the age of the Progranulin Thr272fs mutation in 14 Italian pedigrees with frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Neurobiol Aging 2010; 32:555.e1-8. [PMID: 20947212 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2010.08.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2010] [Revised: 08/11/2010] [Accepted: 08/18/2010] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Progranulin (PGRN) mutations have been recognized to be monogenic causes of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD). PGRN Thr272fs mutation in the Italian population has been previously identified. In the present study, we evaluated the occurrence of a founder effect studying 8 polymorphic microsatellite markers flanking the PGRN gene in 14 apparently unrelated families. We identified a common haplotype associated with PGRN Thr272fs carriers, assuming common ancestry. The inferred age analysis (range between 260 [95% credible set: 227-374] and 295 [95% credible set: 205-397] generations) places the introduction of the mutation back to the Neolithic era when the Celts, the population of that period, settled in Northern Italy. PGRN Thr272fs mutation appears to be as either behavioral frontotemporal dementia (80%) or primary progressive aphasia (20%), it was equally distributed between male and female, and the mean age at onset was 59.6 ± 5.9 (range 53-68). In 14 families, autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance was present in 64.2% of cases. No clinical predictors of disease onset were demonstrated. The identification of a large cohort of frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) patients with homogeneous genetic background well may be used in the search of disease modulators to elucidate genotype-phenotype correlations of progranulopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Borroni
- The Centre for Ageing Brain and Neurodegenerative Disorders, Neurology Unit, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy.
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Rohrer JD, Guerreiro R, Vandrovcova J, Uphill J, Reiman D, Beck J, Isaacs AM, Authier A, Ferrari R, Fox NC, Mackenzie IRA, Warren JD, de Silva R, Holton J, Revesz T, Hardy J, Mead S, Rossor MN. The heritability and genetics of frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Neurology 2009; 73:1451-6. [PMID: 19884572 DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0b013e3181bf997a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 320] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a genetically and pathologically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder. METHODS We collected blood samples from a cohort of 225 patients with a diagnosis within the FTLD spectrum and examined the heritability of FTLD by giving each patient a family history score, from 1 (a clear autosomal dominant history of FTLD) through to 4 (no family history of dementia). We also looked for mutations in each of the 5 disease-causing genes (MAPT, GRN, VCP, CHMP2B, and TARDP) and the FUS gene, known to cause motor neuron disease. RESULTS A total of 41.8% of patients had some family history (score of 1, 2, 3, or 3.5), although only 10.2% had a clear autosomal dominant history (score of 1). Heritability varied across the different clinical subtypes of FTLD with the behavioral variant being the most heritable and frontotemporal dementia-motor neuron disease and the language syndromes (particularly semantic dementia) the least heritable. Mutations were found in MAPT (8.9% of the cohort) and GRN (8.4%) but not in any of the other genes. Of the remaining patients without mutations but with a strong family history, 7 had pathologic confirmation, falling into 2 groups: type 3 FTLD-TDP without GRN mutations (6) and FTLD-UPS (1). CONCLUSION These findings show that frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is a highly heritable disorder but heritability varies between the different syndromes. Furthermore, while MAPT and GRN mutations account for a substantial proportion of familial cases, there are other genes yet to be discovered, particularly in patients with type 3 FTLD-TDP without a GRN mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J D Rohrer
- Dementia Research Centre, Institute of Neurology, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, UK
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Frequency of progranulin mutations in a German cohort of 79 frontotemporal dementia patients. J Neurol 2009; 256:2043-51. [PMID: 19618231 DOI: 10.1007/s00415-009-5248-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2009] [Revised: 06/16/2009] [Accepted: 07/03/2009] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mutations of the progranulin gene lead to progranulin haploinsufficiency and to frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTD) with TDP-43 positive inclusions. It is assumed that unknown genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors are responsible for the observed marked degree of phenotypic variability among mutation carriers. This is the first published series of German FTD cases screened for progranulin mutations. Mean age at onset was 62 years, 19 patients (24%) had a positive family history of dementia, and 11 patients (14%) had a positive family history for probable FTD. Data on FTD subtypes are presented. Two mutations were identified (3%), one of which has been described previously. Clinically, both patients showed the frontal-behavioural variant type of FTD. Remarkably, a sibling of one case presented with progressive nonfluent aphasia, clinically distinct from the brother. We also performed quantitative PCR analyses to detect potential whole progranulin gene and exon deletions. Here, results were negative.
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Higher Than Expected Progranulin Mutation Rate in a Case Series of Italian FTLD Patients. Alzheimer Dis Assoc Disord 2009; 23:301. [DOI: 10.1097/wad.0b013e31819e0cc5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Villa C, Venturelli E, Fenoglio C, Clerici F, Marcone A, Benussi L, Gallone S, Scalabrini D, Cortini F, Serpente M, Martinelli Boneschi F, Cappa S, Binetti G, Mariani C, Rainero I, Giordana MT, Bresolin N, Scarpini E, Galimberti D. DCUN1D1 is a risk factor for frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Eur J Neurol 2009; 16:870-3. [PMID: 19473369 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2009.02611.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) is considered as a proteinopathy; therefore, it is conceivable that genes encoding for factors involved in protein misfolding and/or degradation could play a role in its pathogenesis. METHODS An association study of defective in cullin neddylation 1 (DCN-1)-domain containing 1 (DCUN1D1), which is involved in protein degradation, was carried out in a population of 220 patients with FTLD as compared with 229 age-matched controls. RESULTS A statistically significant increased frequency of the GG genotype of the DCUN1D1 rs4859146 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was observed in patients compared with controls (6.9 vs. 1.7%, P = 0.011, adjusted OR: 4.39, 95% CI: 1.40-13.78). Stratifying according to the clinical syndrome, significant differences were observed between the behavioral variant of frontotemporal dementia and controls (GG frequency: 6.3 vs. 1.7%, P = 0.02, OR:4.0, 95%, CI = 1.24-12.92), as well as between patients with progressive aphasia compared with controls (15.4 vs. 1.7%, P = 0.014, OR = 11.30, 95%, CI = 1.63-78.45), but not in patients with SD versus controls (8.3 vs. 1.7%, P = 0.18, OR = 5.24, 95% C.I. = 0.45-60.63). No significant differences in allelic and genotypic frequencies of the DCUN1D1 rs4859147 SNP were found. CONCLUSIONS The GG genotype of the DCUN1D1 rs4859147 SNP represents a risk factor for the development of FTLD, increasing the risk of about fourfold.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Villa
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, IRCCS Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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Krüger J, Kaivorinne AL, Udd B, Majamaa K, Remes AM. Low prevalence of progranulin mutations in Finnish patients with frontotemporal lobar degeneration. Eur J Neurol 2009; 16:27-30. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02272.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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van Swieten JC, Heutink P. Mutations in progranulin (GRN) within the spectrum of clinical and pathological phenotypes of frontotemporal dementia. Lancet Neurol 2008; 7:965-74. [PMID: 18771956 DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(08)70194-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Frontotemporal dementia (FTD) is predominantly a presenile disorder that is characterised by behavioural changes and cognitive impairment, particularly in language and executive functions, and is associated with neurodegeneration in the frontal or temporal cortices, or both. Research into FTD has made many advances over the past 20 years that have important implications for clinical practice. Different clinical variants (ie, behavioural, aphasic, and motor neuron disease variants) are now recognised as part of the clinical spectrum of FTD. Neuropathologically, the disease can be divided into two main pathological subtypes: frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD) with neuronal and glial tau inclusions (FTLD-tau); and FTLD with neuronal inclusions that are positive for ubiquitin (FTLD-U). 20-30% of cases of FTD follow an autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance, and half of which are caused by defects in MAPT, CHMP2B, and VCP. RECENT DEVELOPMENTS Mutations in the gene that encodes progranulin (GRN) on chromosome 17q21-22 have been identified in patients with hereditary FTD who have tau-negative, ubiquitin-positive inclusions. The recognition of the clinical phenotype associated with more than 50 different mutations in GRN has expanded the clinical knowledge of FTD to include presentations that resemble Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body disease, and corticobasal syndrome, with a variable age at onset (35-89 years) within families. Another recent breakthrough is the identification of the TAR DNA-binding protein (TARDBP; also known as TDP-43) as the main constituent of FTLD-U with mutations in GRN and with mutations in VCP, as well as in FTLD with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. WHERE NEXT?: To develop therapeutic strategies to prevent FTD or delay its progression we must understand whether the loss of progranulin leads to the accumulation of TARDBP. In this Rapid Review, we focus on the clinical and pathological phenotypes associated with mutations in GRN, and distinguish those from other forms of hereditary FTD. In addition, we discuss the potential association of mutations in GRN on the pathophysiology of FTD with the accumulation of TARDBP.
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Affiliation(s)
- John C van Swieten
- Department of Neurology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
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Cortini F, Fenoglio C, Guidi I, Venturelli E, Pomati S, Marcone A, Scalabrini D, Villa C, Clerici F, Dalla Valle E, Mariani C, Cappa S, Bresolin N, Scarpini E, Galimberti D. Novel exon 1 progranulin gene variant in Alzheimer's disease. Eur J Neurol 2008; 15:1111-7. [PMID: 18752597 DOI: 10.1111/j.1468-1331.2008.02266.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Progranulin (PGRN) expression is increased in activated microglia in Alzheimer's disease (AD) brain, suggesting a potential role in this pathology. METHODS A mutation scanning of exons and flanking regions of PGRN was carried out in 120 patients with sporadic frontotemporal lobar degeneration and 145 with sporadic AD. RESULTS Amongst variants not yet deposited, a novel allelic variant was identified in Exon 1 (g100169G > A). It leads to an amino acidic change (p.Gly35Arg) and was observed in a patient with late onset AD. In silico analysis predicted that this mutation is possibly damaging. A second variant (g.100165C > T), resulting in a silent mutation (pAsp33Asp), was found in a patient with semantic dementia and in another with early onset AD. Both variants were absent in 226 controls. In addition, two rare non-pathogenic variants lying very close to PGRN splice-site regions (IVS2 + 7-->G > A and IVS7 + 7-->G > A) were observed. Transcriptional analysis in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients demonstrated they do not affect exon splicing. CONCLUSIONS A novel putative PGRN mutation leading to an amino acidic substitution was identified in a patient with clinical AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Cortini
- Department of Neurological Sciences, Dino Ferrari Center, University of Milan, IRCCS Fondazione Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy
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