Molecular pathogenesis of spinal bulbar muscular atrophy (Kennedy's disease) and avenues for treatment.
Curr Opin Neurol 2021;
33:629-634. [PMID:
32773451 DOI:
10.1097/wco.0000000000000856]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW
The aim of this study was to illustrate the current understanding and avenues for developing treatment in spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA), an inherited neuromuscular disorder caused by a CAG trinucleotide repeat expansion in the androgen receptor (AR) gene.
RECENT FINDINGS
Important advances have been made in characterizing the molecular mechanism of the disease, including the disruption of protein homeostasis, intracellular trafficking and signalling pathways. Biomarkers such as MRI quantification of muscle volume and fat fraction have been used to track disease progression, and will be useful in future clinical studies. Therapies tested and under development have been based on diverse strategies, including targeting mutant AR gene expression, stability and activity, and pathways that mitigate disease toxicity.
SUMMARY
We provide an overview of the recent advances in understanding the SBMA disease mechanism and highlight efforts to translate these insights into well tolerated and effective therapy.
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